mute melancholy, but accepted the
invitation as an offer of friendship, and approached nearer, seating
himself on a rock facing Nickie's banquet.

"No, thanks, boss," he said.

"You'll forgive me," said Nickie, after wrenching a mouthful from the
back of the pullet, "but you look famished."

"I am," answered the stranger.

"Well, help yourself. These garlic sausage sandwiches are superb. Try the
beer."

Nickie pushed his jam tin forward.

The other shook his head very regretfully.

"I mustn't," he said. "Fact is, my livin' depends on me not eatin', an'
I've got a wife an' kiddies to support."

Nickie paused with the bottle half-way to his mouth.

"Your living depends on your not eating?" he ejaculated. "What, do you
earn anything by starving, then? By Jove, that's a quaint idea."

"I earn all I get by starvin'. My name's Cann--Matty Cann, but I'm known
professionally as Bony-part. Ain't yeh seen me advertisements up the main
street? I'm drawed on a big poster outside Professer Thunder's Museum iv
Marvels, I'm the livin' skelington."

"He isn't ruining himself with your upkeep," Nickie.

"No." replied the Living Skeleton. "I'm allowanced off an' I've got t'
eat on'y what he gives me--that's in our contrac'. If I eat more an put
on flesh out I go. There's a clause in ther contrac' what sez I'm li'ble
t' be fired if goes above seven stone seven. The previous livin'
skelington got the run at Barnip fer breakin' out. He was the only
original. I'm just a sort iv understudy."

Nickie clicked his tongue sympathetically. "Well," he said, "you might
pick a hone. That wouldn't be very fattening, and it might delude your
stomach with the idea you were having something to eat."

Bonypart, the Living Skeleton, took the wish-bone with a few shreds of
chicken on it.

"Thanks," he said, "it might be a comfort." He sucked the bone fondly.

"You said that Professor Thunder's only original living skeelton broke
out at Barnip. What happened to him?"

"He went on the spree," said Matty Cann.

"Drink?" queried Nickie.

"No, food. He got at a bar spread in the Shire hall at Barnip, an' afore
they missed him he ate enough fer ten Shire Councillors. He completely
rooned that banquet. That was the third time he'd gone on th' spree, an'
ther Perfesser 'ad warned him if it 'appened again he'd get the shoot."

Nickie the Kid grinned.

"It isn't a Profession that would suit me," he said. "I have an
instinctive fondness for