138 GARRYOWEN 



and tell her what you've tould me, and maybe she 

 won't forget you for your thrubble — ' " 



" That she won't," said Miss Grimshaw, taking 

 her purse from her pocket and half-a-crown from 

 her purse. She also took a sixpence; and giving 

 the child the sixpence, she showed her the half- 

 crown. 



" I wiU give you that," said she, " next Friday 

 if what you have told me is true, and if you say 

 nothing about this to anyone else. Tell old Mrs 

 Moriarty I will call and see her, and thank her 

 very much for sending you. Now, mind, if you 

 say a word of this to anyone else you won't get 

 the half-crown." 



Susie Gallagher, whose mouth had flown open 

 wide at the sight of the half-crown, closed it again. 



" Plaze, miss, is the whole ha'f-crown for me? " 



" Yes, if you don't say a word." 



" Not a word, miss; sure, I'd bite me tongue off 

 before I'd let it be telhn' a word." 



" And go on keeping your ears open," said Miss 

 Grimshaw, " and let me know if you hear any- 

 thing more." 



" Yes, miss." 



" That'll do," said Miss Grimshaw, and Susie 

 Gallagher departed, running, taking a hop, skip 

 and a jump now and then, presumably as an 

 outlet for her emotions. 



When this desirable and faithful servitor had 

 vanished round the corner. Miss Grimshaw passed 

 through the kitchen-garden towards the stables. 



1 



