Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/52

 'Where d' je get that, ye young devel?" he asked, and snatched the watch.

"Claimed it auf a ol' bloke w'en 'e was drinkin' 'is tea," Dicky replied with sparkling eyes. "Let's 'ave a look at it, father."

"Did 'e run after ye?"

"No—didn't know nuffin about it. I cut 'is bit o' ribbin with my knife." Dicky held up a treasured relic of blade and handle found in a gutter. "Ain'tcher goin' to let's 'ave a look at it?"

Josh Perrott looked doubtfully toward his wife: the children were chiefly her concern. Of her sentiments there could be no mistake. He slipped the watch into his own pocket and caught Dicky by the collar.

"I'll give you somethink, you damn young thief," he exclaimed, slipping off his belt. "You'd like t' 'ave us all in stir for a year or two, I s'pose; goin' thievin'