pity! why, we are old friends."

The thief's pals were drawing near.

"You are mistaken, my friend," said Oscar, adding: "And I must kindly
request you to move off and not disturb us."

The man haw-hawed in a rough manner and said:

"Well, you are playing it nice."

"I do not understand your allusion, sir. It is very vulgar--yes, sir,
very vulgar."

"Is it, indeed? Why, you rat, do you think I do not recognize you?"

"You certainly do not recognize me. I never saw you before in my life."

"He! he! ha! ha! that's great, my covie; yes, that's great. So you never
saw me before? Well, well, I've seen you often enough. I was looking at
your portrait only yesterday."

"You were looking at my portrait only yesterday?" repeated Oscar.

"Yes."

"Where on earth did you see my portrait?"

"In the rogues' gallery--number one hundred and three. Yes, yes, you
rascal, I've run you down nicely; but see here, you and that girl appear
to be enjoying yourselves and I don't wish to spoil your enjoyment. I am
a gentleman, I am, and you can buy me off."

At this moment the rogue's pals approached, and the fellow turning
toward them said:

"See here, this 'ere rat is pretending he don't know us. Eh! ain't that
cool of him? And we have been a-follerin' of him this last two months
and now we've caught him a-spendin' of the swag, and he's a-puttin' on
airs. I say, miss, mebbe you don't know the character of the chappie
who's a-spendin' his money on you so free. Mebbe you don't know he's a
thief, and it's a part of his swag that you are having a fine time on;
but I don't begrudge--no, I don't--the money that's gone, but youse must
hand over the balance, or I'll be compelled to do my duty and take youse
both in. Yes. I'll have to do my duty."

"My friend, you are evidently laboring under a great mistake."

"Am I now?"

"You certainly are."

"Well, well, is that so?"

"It is the truth."

"See here, Johnny, I know you as the most expert pickpocket in the
country. I've been on your track a long time. Now you can just pony up
and go on with your flirtin'; otherwise you and the girl will go with
me."

"Go with you?"

"That's it."

"Never! never! we would never permit ourselves to be seen in such
company, you rough-looking boor, you."

"Hear him, boys, hear him! 'You rough-looking boor!' Well, he is
a-puttin' on lugs, ain't he? What shall we do with him?"

"Duck him," came the answer.

CHAPTER III

A LIVELY S