DUPE, 121 



" and if you do not immediately return it, 

 you shall not proceed with me." 



" Don't be a fool," he cried, half in ear- 

 nest. 



" Fool or not," I replied, " I do not stir 

 from this, till you have returned the eigh- 

 teen-pence you have robbed him of." 



The county police had not been estab- 

 lished, or I would have given him in 

 charge. My horses were put to and ready, 

 when the bricklayer, tired, I suppose, of 

 waiting, or suspecting the trick, came run- 

 ning out. 



" Give it him back," I repeated. See- 

 ing my determination, the cheat reluc- 

 tantly, though with a forced laugh, com- 

 plied. 



" I did not think you meant to serve 

 me so," was all his dupe ventured to 

 say. 



On our arrival at the next stage, where 

 we lunched, as did the passengers of the 

 Wisbeach coach, the baffled cheat went 



