You keep still!' he ses shaking the man. *D'ye
hear?'

"Peter gave a shout of joy, and stood by to help.
" * Nonsense!' ses old Sam, turning pale. 'You've
been drinking, Ginger. This comes of standing you
'arf-pints.'

" 'It's him right enough,' ses Ginger. 'I'd know
'is ugly face anywhere.'

" 'You come oflF'ome at once,' ses Sam, very sharp,
but his voice trembling. 'At once. D'ye hear me ?'
'Fetch a policeman, Peter,' ses Ginger.
'Let the pore feller go, I tell you,' ses Sam,
stamping his foot. "Ow would you like to be
locked up? 'Ow would you like to be torn away

from your wife and little ones ? 'Ow would you ^

152



it



The Guardian Angel



a 4



Fetch a policeman, Peter/ ses Ginger a^n.
'D'ye hear?'

" * Don't do that, guv'nor/ ses the lodger. *You
got your money back. Wot's the good o' putting
me away?'

" *Got our wot back?' ses Ginger, shaking 'im
agin. * Don't you try and be funny with me, else
I'll tear you into little pieces.*

" * But he took it back,* ses the man, trying to sit
up and pointing at Sam. *He follered me down-
stairs and took it all away from me. Your ticker as
well.*

" *WoT?' ses Ginger and Peter both together.
" *'Strue as I'm 'ere,' ses the lodger. 'You turn
*is pockets out and see. Look out! He*s going oflP!'

"Ginger turned his 'ead just in time to see old
Sam nipping round the comer. He pulled the lodger
up like a flash, and, telling Peter to take hold of the
other side of him, they set off arter Sam.
