Page:Triangles of life, and other stories.djvu/250

 rises above a little safe "thieving" or paltry swindling, and is, therefore, never likely to need serious “outside "assistance, works for Bill for all he is worth. For a good deal more than he is worth, in fact. But in spite of the positive and unanimous testimony of "Frowsy Sal" (one time "The Red Streak"), B11l’s "piece," "Ginger," "The Red Rover," "One·Eyed Kate," "Stousher," "Pincher," and as many other equally respectable and well-known ladies and gentlemen as the Court will listen to, Bill goes up for a "sixer."

Ginger’s work doesn’t end here. Others are "pinched" and sent up, and they take messages into Bill, and arrange with certain prisoners who are "on tobacco" to help Bill, and be helped themselves when they come out. Poor Pincher being pinched, Sal says to him: "If yer do get fixed, Pincher, tell Bill I'm stickin'.

Presently the word goes round that Frowsy Sal is stickin’ ter Boko Bill, and is received, for the most part, with blasphemous incredulity by the "talent." But Sal cooks in third·rate public—houses, and were and works hard to keep the kid, the room, and the "sticks," and have a few shillings for Bill against comes out, and she keeps "the blokes" out of her kitchen. Which facts are commented on with yet further wondering blasphemy, into which creeps a note almost of reverence.

So Ginger, being Bill’s cobber, is deputed to round the hat to help Sal, because Sal is sticking to Bill. It is a furtive hat, but the money comes in, and