n you must learn as much more as
possible. Do you know his name?"

"No."

"It is Paul Hoffman. He and his mother live in a house that they take
care of on Madison avenue. We want to break into that house some night
next week and carry off some plate and bonds that are in the safe. If
we make the haul we'll do well by you."

"I understand," said Julius, nodding intelligently.

"What we want," pursued Marlowe, "is to have the boy sleep out of the
house the night we make the attempt. That will leave the coast clear.
If the woman wakes up and discovers us, we'll threaten to kill her if
she makes any fuss. Do you hear?"

Julius nodded again.

"Do you think you can do what we want?"

"Yes."

"That's well. We'll wait for the boy's report before we lay our plans,
Jack. Now that's settled, we'll send out for some whisky and drink
success to the job."

"Then you must find the money, Marlowe, for I'm dead broke."

"Here, boy, take this," said Marlowe, handing Julius the bill he had
recently displayed, "and bring back a pint of whisky."

"All right," said Julius.

"And mind you bring back the change, or I must go without breakfast
to-morrow morning."

"I'll remember," said Julius.

When he had gone out, Marlowe said: "Where did you pick up that boy,
Jack? He isn't your son, is he?"

"No; I have no son. I picked him up one day when he was a little chap.
He didn't seem to belong to nobody; so I took him home, and he's been
with me ever since."

"Where does he go when you are shut up, Jack? That's a good part of
the time, you know."

"Into the streets. He picks up a living there somehow. I don't ask
how."

"And he always comes back to you when you get out again?"

"Yes."

"Loves you like a father, eh?" said Marlowe, laughing.

"He's used to me," said Jack, indifferently.

Not being sentimental, he never troubled himself to expect affection
from his young ward, and would not have felt very deeply afflicted if
he had deserted him. Still, he, too, had got used to the society of
Julius, who was the only living thing that clung to him, and probably
would have felt a degree of regret at his loss. There are few, however
callous, who do not feel some satisfaction in companionship.

Marlowe laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" said Jack.

"I was thinking, Jack, that you wasn't exactly the right sort to train
up a boy in the way he should go, and all that. If he takes pattern by
you, it's easy to tell where