Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/296

 We 'ran' Malachi to believe that the bricklayer was mad on the subject of phrenology and was suspected of having killed several persons in order to obtain their skulls for experimental purposes. We further said that he had been heard to say that Malachi's skull was a most extraordinary one, and so we advised him to be careful.

Malachi occupied a hut some distance from the station, and one night, the last night of the brick-layer's stay, as Malachi sat smoking over the fire the door opened quietly and the phrenologist entered. He carried a bag with a pumpkin in the bottom of it, and, sitting down on a stool, he let the bag down with a bump on the floor between his feet. Malachi was badly scared, but he managed to stammer out―

''Ello!'

''Ello!' said the phrenologist.

There was an embarrassing silence, which was at last broken by 'Bricky' saying:―'How are you gettin' on, Malachi?'

'Oh, jist right,' replied Malachi.

Nothing was said for a while, until Malachi, after fidgetting a good deal on his stool, asked the bricklayer when he was leaving the station.

'Oh, I'm going away in the morning early,' said he. 'I've jist been over to Jimmy Nowlett's camp, and as I was passing I thought I'd call and get your head.'

'What?'

'I come for your skull.'

'Yes,' the phrenologist continued, while Malachi sat horror-stricken; I've got Jimmy Nowlett's skull here, and he lifted the bag and lovingly felt the