. She was everlastingly catchin' me when I did things
behind her back. But Mr. Paul beats that, for he see me doin' things
when he wasn't here."

"Mister Paul wasn't here, for sure, yesterday mornin'," Mike asserted;
"I'd take me oath o' that. An' if he wasn't here, how could he see me
givin' ye a light from me pipe? Answer me that! He says it's a little
bird told him; but that's not it, I'm thinkin'. Not but that they have
clocks with birds into 'em, that come out and tell the time o' day,
'Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!' An' if that big clock he broke last week had
a bird in it that could tell time that way, I'd break the thing
quick--so I would."

"It ain't no bird," said Bob. "You can bet your life on that. No birds
can't tell him nothin' no more'n you can catch 'em by putting salt on
their tails. I know what it is Mr. Paul does--least, I know how he does
it. It's second-sight, that's what it is! I see a man onct at the
theayter, an' he----"

But perhaps it is not necessary to set down here the office-boy's
recollection of the trick of an ingenious magician.

About half an hour after Paul had arrived at the office Mr. Wheatcroft
appeared. The junior partner hesitated in the doorway for a second, and
then entered.

Paul was watching him, and the same mischievous smile flashed over the
face of the young man.

"You need not be alarmed to-day, Mr. Wheatcroft," he said. "There is no
fascinating female waiting for you this morning."

"Confound the woman!" ejaculated Mr. Wheatcroft, testily. "I couldn't
get rid of her."

"But you subscribed for the book at last," asserted Paul, "and she went
away happy."

"I believe I did agree to take one copy of the work she showed me,"
admitted Mr. Wheatcroft, a little sheepishly. Then he looked up
suddenly. "Why, bless my soul," he cried, "that was yesterday
morning----"

"Allowing for differences of clocks," Paul returned, "it was about ten
minutes to ten yesterday morning."

"Then how do you come to know anything about it? I should like to be
told that!" the junior partner inquired. "You did not get down till
nearly twelve."

"I had an eye on you," Paul answered, as the smile again flitted across
his face.

"But I thought you were detained all the morning by a sick friend,"
insisted Mr. Wheatcroft.

"So I was," Paul responded. "And if you won't believe I had an eye on
you, all I can say then is that a little bird told me."

"Stuff and nonsense!" cried Mr. Wheatcroft. "