thing," ses Sam Jones, starting arter him; "mark my
words."

We couldn't make head nor tail out of it, but for some days arterward
you'd ha' thought that Bob Pretty's 'ouse was a peep-show. Everybody
stared at the winders as they went by, and the children played in front
of the 'ouse and stared in all day long. Then the old gentleman was seen
one day as bold as brass sitting at the winder, and we heard that it was
a pore old tramp Bob Pretty 'ad met on the road and given a home to,
and he didn't like 'is good-'artedness to be known for fear he should be
made fun of.

Nobody believed that, o' course, and things got more puzzling than ever.
Once or twice the old gentleman went out for a walk, but Bob Pretty or
'is missis was always with 'im, and if anybody tried to speak to him
they always said 'e was deaf and took 'im off as fast as they could.
Then one night up at the "Cauliflower" here Dicky Weed came rushing in
with a bit o' news that took everybody's breath away.

"I've just come from the post-office," he ses, "and there's a letter for
Bob Pretty's old gentleman! Wot d'ye think o' that?"

"If you could tell us wot's inside it you might 'ave something to brag
about," ses Henery Walker.

"I don't want to see the inside," ses Dicky Weed; "the name on the
outside was good enough for me. I couldn't hardly believe my own eyes,
but there it was: 'Mr. Josiah Walker,' as plain as the nose on your
face."

O' course, we see it all then, and wondered why we hadn't thought of
it afore; and we stood quiet listening to the things that Henery Walker
said about a man that would go and steal another man's great-uncle from
'im. Three times Smith, the landlord, said, "Hush!" and the fourth time
he put Henery Walker outside and told 'im to stay there till he 'ad lost
his voice.

Henery Walker stayed outside five minutes, and then 'e come back
in ag'in to ask for advice. His idea seemed to be that, as the old
gentleman was deaf, Bob Pretty was passing 'isself off as Henery Walker,
and the disgrace was a'most more than 'e could bear. He began to get
excited ag'in, and Smith 'ad just said "Hush!" once more when we 'eard
somebody whistling outside, and in come Bob Pretty.

He 'ad hardly got 'is face in at the door afore Henery Walker started
on 'im, and Bob Pretty stood there, struck all of a heap, and staring at
'im as though he couldn't believe his ears.

"'Ave you gone mad, Henery?" he ses, at last.

"Give me back my great-un