William Adolphus Turnpike

presented themselves from time to time, though not always with success, and his first perusal of the list of tenants handed him by Whimple showed him that the job of rent collecting would

m confided the errand entrusted to him, and over the habits and the career of the first-named tenant on the list there followed a solemn conference. At its close, William, with a "Much obliged, Jimmy," sallied forth to the house he had passed on his way, and knocked sharply at the door. A girl, untidy, unwashed, with a face that might have been pretty if

he asked as he close

he said

walk I suppose?" s

hall she looked at him

e of sarcasm. "Out in the mornings, out in the afternoons, ta

er, patted her on the shoulder. "Cheer up," he said patronisin

at?" sh

u better show me whe

wasn't in?" she

in polite society when the lady of the house don't want to see anybody, and the l

't in," the

oinder, "and it's funny he'd pick rent day for a walk; him owi

N

ll wait till

t be back un

. I can wait; that'

st out, "He's in the kitchen, Will Turnpike,

hough it was summer and the day was warm. A growth of untrimmed whiskers through which peered crafty eyes, and a mass of long matted hair topping a big head, gave an u

let you in for?" h

if you mean your daughter," said William calml

old man shrie

iam politely, "and ain't you glad your s

an again. "Money! What do

old man's face two receipts, properly made out for the amounts due. "I see," he said, pointing to an open

ou

e, Miste

ly, and then shouted, "You-y

ut as for the place you speak of-not for mine. T

r antecedents, cursed his daughter, cursed everybody and everything for a ful

you ain't making so much as you uster when you sold light-weight coal on the big contract from the city, but I'm

n the old man's face, William inwardly troubled, outwa

this young ruffian two months' rent, and get the receipts f

s due," he said confidently, "and it'll be ever so much nicer for you to have it ready, else," and here he a

an hurling curses at hi

red, careless woman, who nevertheless was the real head of the Moriarity household, which included nine children of varying ages and sizes. Nothing was eve

William reached him first. Without a word the boy stooped, grabbed one of the man's ankles firmly, and, putting all his strength into the effort, pulled his foot off the ground. The man lurched heavily and fell full length upon his face, just escaping William, who stood upright, as Mrs. Moriarity, talking volubly, plumped down on the man's back. "And here oi'll sit till a p'licemon comes," she said; "you, William Turnpike, kape a lukout for wan." And even

yum, did that brute do that

ov yez; come on, Willyum." And William went. She comforted her offspring and bathed William's face in warm water, unheeding his protests and deaf to his explanation of the o

scorted him to the door after the rent had been paid over, patting him on the head, calling him a hero, and telling him that "the rint wud always be rady for the loikes ov him." And at the door, in the open light of day, she flung her arms ar

been growing anxious at the boy's long absence, and had been blaming himself for asking him to do the work, met him half-way to the

down the money he had collected with the laconic state

winner. There's a new day dawning for me-and for you. I have

m grinned