"If I tell you, you won't carry me back?" said Paul, anxiously.

"Not a bit of it. I've got too much business on hand for that."

Relieved by this assurance, Paul told his story, encouraged thereto
by frequent questions from his companion, who seemed to take a lively
interest in the adventures of his young companion.

"That's a capital trick you played on old Mudge," he said with a hearty
laugh which almost made the tins rattle. "I don't blame you a bit for
running away. I've got a story to tell you about Mrs. Mudge. She's a
regular skinflint."




XI.

WAYSIDE GOSSIP.


This was the pedler's promised story about Mrs. Mudge.

"The last time I was round that way, I stopped, thinking maybe they
might have some rags to dispose of for tin-ware. The old lady seemed
glad to see me, and pretty soon she brought down a lot of white rags.
I thought they seemed quite heavy for their bulk,--howsomever, I wasn't
looking for any tricks, and I let it go. By-and-by, when I happened to
be ransacking one of the bags, I came across half a dozen pounds or more
of old iron tied up in a white cloth. That let the cat out of the bag. I