ngs Wyck's famous ebony stick. It
was beautifully mounted and polished and its numerous notches were
carefully cut. The temptation was too great to resist and Hal calmly
appropriated it, slipping it down the leg of his trousers, then he
staggered out of the yard down a lane towards the creek. When he was
well out of sight he carefully pulled off his old coat, and took from
the pocket a silk coat and pair of overalls. These were quickly donned,
the wig and beard disappeared, and he straightened himself out and
walked back through the yard into the street, looking like an ordinary
tradesman.

Reg was waiting for him when he got back.

"He left by this morning's train for West," said Hal.

"I thought so. I enquired at the station, and they told me a goods train
ran twice a week at that hour, and one had gone this morning, but the
man who was on duty then had gone home."

"What's the next train, Reg?"

"1.50."

"Well, we'll go by that. But, come here, I have something to show you,"
said Hal, leading the way to their room, and producing the stick.

"My God! the stick," cried Reg, and taking it in his hands, looked as if
he could have smashed it to a thousand pieces.

Hal left him, thinking it was better for him to be alone with the bitter
reflections the sight of the stick had caused.

When the girls left the train they did not go to a hotel, but to a
boarding-house near the station. Several rough-looking men were
loitering about the door and on the step sat a dirty, fat woman.

"Good-evening, missus. Got any beds?" said Hil.

"Yes, come in, gentlemen. What price do you want. I've got 'em from
sixpence to eighteen-pence."

"Let's see the eighteenpennys, then."

"This way," said she, leading them along a long passage. "Here you are,
a fine double-bed fit for a hemperor," and she flung open a door on
which "_Privit_" was marked.

"Tell you what I'll do. Half-a-crown for the two of yer," said she.

"All right, missus," said Hil, laying down her luggage.

"No, it ain't all right. Not that I doubts you, but you'll have to sugar
up afore you touches it."

"Here you are then," answered Hil, handing her the money.

"Want anything to heat!"

"No, thank you. Good-night."

"Suppose you are new chums, ain't you?"

"Yes. Good-night, we're going to bed."

"Well, good-night!" she answered, disappearing reluctantly.

"What a relief," said May, as she took off her large boots and divested
herself of her male att