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 scolding, without ill-will, humbly, as a deserved rebuke of bad faith.

He accepted it, also, as a proof of Babbing’s interest. It had been his experience that all his elders who liked him, showed their affection by admonishment; and he was aware, from Babbing’s manner, that he had made himself solid, as he would say, with the Chief. Moreover, he was going out on another case. As a deaf mute! He was likely to have some fun! And if any one could expect a boy to reflect upon the moral aspects of anything under such circumstances—

Corcoran arrived in due course, silent, non-committal, with his hat on the back of his head, looking like a newspaper man, on the sporting page. When he had received his instructions, he said “Come on, kid,” slightingly, and he let Barney trot along behind him to the elevator. “Going to put you out as a dummy, eh?” He pressed the signal button. “I suppose you ’ll be able to get away with that, if you keep your mouth shut.”