'Don't forget the little widow was sweet on Frank Hardy before you jugged
him, Tinribs,' said the miner.

Tinribs was a name bestowed upon the superintendent by the youth of
Waddy, and called after him by irreverent small boys from convenient
cover or under the shelter of darkness. He found the Widow Haddon at
home. She it was who answered his knock.

'I have come from the School Committee, ma'am,' he said, still intent
upon his boots.

'About Dickie, is it? Come in.'

Mrs. Haddon was dressmaker-in-ordinary to the township, and her otherwise
carefully tended kitchen was littered with clippings and bits of
material. She resumed her task by the lamp a soon as the delegate of the
School Committee was comfortably seated.

'Has Richard come home, ma'am?' Ephraim was an orator, and prided himself
on his command of language.

The widow shook her head. 'No,' she said composedly. 'I don't think he
will come home to-night.'

'We have had a committee meeting, missus,' said Ephraim, examining the
toe of his left boot reproach fully, 'an' it's understood we've got to
catch these boys.'

'What!' cried Mrs. Haddon, dropping her work into her lap. 'You silly men
are going to make a hunt of it? Then, let me tell you, you will not get