flung his arms around him and dragged him back by main force.

"What are you carrying on like that for?" he demanded. "What do you mean
by it?"

"Fancy!" returned Mr. Smithson, with intense bitterness. "I thought
Digson was the biggest fool in the place, and I find I've made a
mistake. So have you. Good-night."

He opened the door and dashed out. Mr. Clarkson, with a strange sinking
at his heart, watched him up the road.






THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

[Illustration: "The lodger was standing at the foot o' Ginger's bed,
going through 'is pockets."]

The night-watchman shook his head. "I never met any of these phil--
philantherpists, as you call 'em," he said, decidedly. "If I 'ad they
wouldn't 'ave got away from me in a hurry, I can tell you. I don't say I
don't believe in 'em; I only say I never met any of 'em. If people do
you a kindness it's generally because they want to get something out of
you; same as a man once--a perfick stranger--wot stood me eight
'arf-pints becos I reminded 'im of his dead brother, and then borrered
five bob off of me.