"That'sh me, Willie," answered Nicholas Crips.

"You blackguard, you intrude into my house and insult my guests, and you
promised when I gave you that last £10 never to interfere with me again."

"Now Willie, Little Willie," said Nickie, "when did I ever keep my
promises?"

"Leave my grounds or I'll give you over to the police!"

"Chertainly," said Nickie. "Chertainly, I'll leave the grounds. There's
always room for me outside."

He took the skirt off his coat, heavy with the contributions of the
guests, in his hand, and strolled joyously through the gate.

"Ta-ta," he said. "Good-bye, Billy, dear ole Billy, dear, old,
fat-headed, bumptious Billy!"

Feeling like a king, Nickie the Kid passed down the road, and the morning
sun glittered on the emblem on his breast. He was still sustaining the
character.



CHAPTER IV.

A TEMPORARY REFORMATION.

NICKIE the Kid presented himself at the front door of a decorous villa in