Wonder if there'd be any chance of me lending a hand?"
Dollops thought a moment.
"You might try, sir--'twould do no 'arm, anyway," he said after a pause.
"Pertickler as you're my mate, so ter speak. Ought ter be able to work
it, I should think.... Look. Who's a-comin' now? If it ain't ole Black
Whiskers 'imself!"
And Black Whiskers it was, to be sure. He lounged up to them, hands in
pockets, hat pulled well down over his eyes, a sinister, ugly figure. He
had an "air"--and it was by no means a pleasant one.
"Hullo, youngster!" he called out in a harsh voice. "Been seein' the
country--eh? Better fer you and yer mate if yer keeps yer eyes well on
the ground in this part uv the world. Never meddle in someone else's
business. It don't pay." His voice lowered suddenly, and he jerked a
thumb back over his shoulder. "Mate on the square with you, I s'pose?
Comin' along now?"
"Bet yer life I am!" responded Dollops heartily, giving him a significant
wink. "'Course I ain't said nuffin' ter ole Bill abaht what you tole me,
but I know 'e's a cute un.
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