" exclaimed the burglar.

"Yes, I've got business in Wreckumoft, so we'll have the pleasure o'
travellin' together."

The gentlemanly man felt that the pleasure would be entirely confined to
one side. However, he expressed much joy at the prospect of such good
company, as the policeman sat down beside him.

The train gave a pant, then a snort, then an impatient whistle. Then
the bell rang a second time, the whistle sounded a single note, and the
carriages moved slowly away. A moment more, and they were sweeping out
of the station; a moment more and they were rushing over the moor;
another moment, and they were dashing through space, setting all
terrestrial things at naught, until a station came in view; then the
whistle uttered a prolonged shriek, and the train began to slow. Up to
this point the policeman and his friends had sat together in comparative
silence.

The former put his head out of the window, and remarked that, "there was
a feller as would be too late for the train."

The moonlight enabled him to perceive that the late man was a labourer
of some sort.

The train ran into the station and stopped.

"Tickets ready!" shouted the guard.

"That'll give him a chance," observed the gentlemanly burglar.

"All right?" inquired the guard.

"All right," replied the ticket-inspector. The bell rang, the guard
whistled, so did the engine; it puffed too, and the train began to move.

"Look sharp now," cried the station-master eagerly to some one outside
the office. "Athenbury? Here you are--four shillings; run!"

The guard knew that it was a late passenger, and, being a good-hearted
fellow, held the door of a carriage open, even although the train was on
the move.

A man in a smock-frock and slouch-hat rushed across the platform at this
moment, and made for the door which the guard held open.

"Jump!" said the guard.

The gentlemanly burglar and the policeman lent their aid to pull the man
into the train; the door banged, and they were away.

"You've all but missed it," said the burglar.

The man in the smock-frock pulled his slouch-hat well over his eyes, and
admitted that it was a "close shave." Then he laid his head on the side
of the carriage and breathed hard.

"Take a drop o' gin," said the burglar in a patronising way, "it'll
bring you to in a minute."

Kenneth knew by his manner that he did not guess who it was that sat
beside him, so he resolved to accept the offer.

"Thank'ee, I