his hands in horror.

"Let yer have that? Holy Cats! Why, Eb would skin me alive--an'
you too--if you was to play on that thing down here!"

"I don't want to play on it," replied the man, "but the strings
will get damp, and break, out there. Just let me have it in here,
--that's a good fellow. I can let the strings down a bit. No good
spoiling 'em. I won't play a note on it. Honest Injun!"

"Sure about it?" asked Justin.

"Sure. Honest, I won't."

"Well, all right, then. Mind what yer promised, now!"

He took a key down from a hook under the lamp, unlocked the cell
door, and passed in the banjo. After locking the door with great
care, and replacing the key on its hook, he bade us all good
night, and went upstairs.

"Burglary? Is that what the Czar has run you in for?" This from
the stranger with the banjo.

"That is the crime with which we are charged."

"Well, I must say you disappoint me. I had always hoped for
something better in the way of burglars. I hope you won't be
offended but really, you know, you don't look DESPERATE enough."