She was very quick, and she had not been long higher employment be fore her mistress began to pay her. You know, sir, in this business the girls have to give some time at first, and often pay a premium as well. She got on wonderfully, and she and her mother were able to live comfortably and pay their way. I lived at Twickenham, and so did Dick Tulk, and it chanced that Minnie’s Employer had several customers iu that direction. She often had to journey as far up the river as 'i'ed dington. That’s how I came to know something about her. I dare sas you have already guessed that she and Tulk met, but it was not through her visits to our district, as you shall hear Tulk is a painter by trade, a house painter I mean, and I*ll allow that fiew knew their busi ness better. He was a married man then, with children. He has neither wife nor bairn now. They all died. Now Tulk bad a mania for pos ing as a gentleman when the day’s job was done. We never saw much of it. He was too artful to let us. After he’d had his tea at home he’d hurry down to the West End, chance his work ing clothes at some place he knew of, and flash about in a frock coat, a tall bat, and light kid gloves. He is a fine looking manias you say, and as far as appearance went he was the character he assumed to a T. If he hadn’t worn gloves his hands would have betrayed him. He speaks pretty well, and is cunning enough not to say too much. You will understand now why I compared him with Deeming. I must tell jou that when we were friendly I knew nothing •bout these tricks of his ; we met as a couple ot decent mechanics should. I found out a 'ot after I found out him. As fate would have t-- and a cruel fate it was—he chanced to bo in sn omnibus which was taking Minnie to some West-end house where she had a parcel to leave. When she had her fare she discovered that her purse was gone. She had left it behind her or had lost it. The conductor was rough and she was frightened. 