Page:Her Benny - Silas K Hocking (Warne, 1890).djvu/38

14 "Yes."

"Ah! Did anybody see you come in?"

"No."

And instantly seizing a huge poker and waving it in the air, he shouted to the affrighted agent, with a terrible oath, "Then I'll take care nobody ever sees you go out."

This had the desired effect, and the terrified agent escaped for his life. At the next house at which he called he was received very blandly.

"So you have come for the rint, have you?" "Yes, that is my business."

"Ah, yes, indeed, very proper. Could you change a five pun' note, now?" "Oh, yes."

"That will do." Then raising his voice to a loud pitch, he shouted, "Mike, come down here ; there's a chap that 'as five pun' in his pocket; let's collar him—quick!" And a second time the affrighted agent fled, and gave up the situation at once, vowing he would never enter any of those streets again while he lived.

It was to this neighbourhood that Benny Bates and his sister wended their way, after leaving old Joe and his warm fire. Whether the lamplighter had neglected his duty, or whether some of the inhabitants, "loving darkness rather than light," had shut off the gas, is not certain; but anyhow Bowker's Row and several of the adjacent courts were in total darkness.

This, however, seemed no matter of surprise to Benny and