SLY WORK


The next morning my duty led me directly in the way of that little
friend of mine whom I have already mentioned. It is strange how
often my duty did lead me in her way.

She is a demure little creature, with wits as bright 1s her eyes,
which is saying a great deal; and while, in the course of our long
friendship, I had admired without making use of the special abilities
I saw in her, I felt that the time had now come when they might
prove of inestimable value to me.

Greeting her with pardonable abruptness, I expressed my wishes in
these possibly alarming words:

"Jinny, you can do something for me. Find out - I know you can,
and that, too, without arousing suspicion or compromising either of
us - where Mr. Moore, of Waverley Avenue, buys his groceries, and
when you have done that, whether or not he has lately resupplied
himself with candles."

The surprise which she showed had a touch of naivete in it which
was very encouraging.

"Mr. Moore?" she cried, "the uncle of her who - who -"

"The very same," I responded, and waited for her questions without
adding a single word in way of explanation.