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 foul play was intended. He determined to be on the qui-vive, as he was now completely in a trap.

"It is my painful duty" said the lawyer, advancing, and opening the document, which at a glance Dodge knew was a writ, "to arrest you in the—"

"O don't!" said Dodge, falling on his knees, but very near the door;—"forgive me this once; I will never attempt to be dishonest again. I will confess all.—I saw the advertisement, and being something like Mr. Dodge, I thought, just for a joke, I'd answer it—that's all.—Don't apprehend me—consider my wife and little ones."

"To think," said Dodge, as he reached this part of his narrative,—"to think of penetrating a lawyer's heart with a plea, for wives and little ones—ha! ha!"

"How!—What?" cried the lawyer, "not Dodge?—you are Dodge."

"I wish I was," said that personage mournfully, "for I heard his father was dead and that you had some money for him, and that was what the advertisement meant, and I came here for a joke."

"Joke!" cried the lawyer; "how dare you trifle with the law this way?" The attorney paused for a moment, and callin' his clerk by name, said, as he appeared, "You heard what this fellow said;" and turning to Dodge, "What if I detain you—have you taken in charge, tried and transported—that would be a pretty ending to your joke.—Eh?" and then, after a pause he added, as a sudden thought struck him, "Do you know Dodge?"

"I did once—can't say whether I should just now, you've frightened me so."

"Does he know you?"

"I'm not sure."