"Who was it?" demanded the carpenter indignantly. "If there's anybody
playing such tricks on me I will have him up before the courts."

"It was no acquaintance of yours. The person in question had no spite
against you and you would only have suffered a little delay."

Then Mrs. Hamilton explained how a pickpocket had undertaken to
relieve her of her wallet, and would have succeeded but for her young
companion.

"Oh they're mighty sharp, ma'am, I can tell you," said the carpenter.
"I never lost anything, because I don't look as if I had anything
worth stealing; but if one of those rascals made up his mind to rob
me, ten to one he'd do it."

Mr. Plank receipted his bill and Mrs. Hamilton paid him a hundred and
eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents. Ben could not help envying him
as he saw the roll of bills transferred to him.

"I hope the work was done satisfactory," said Mr. Plank. (Perfect
grammar could not be expected of a man who, from the age of twelve,
had been forced to earn his own living.)

"Quite so, Mr. Plank," said the lady graciously. "I shall send for
you when I have any more work to be done."

There was no more business to attend to, and Mrs. Hamilton led the way
out, accompanied by Ben.

"I will trouble you to see me as far as Broadway," said the lady. "I