dventure in town whic

appeals from within the precincts of Pontifex Mansions, Shaftesbury Avenue. It was quit

es, which might have roused unworthy suspicions in the breasts of some of the more worldly of Uncle Joseph's supporters, were covered by the fact that the door was double-locked, and no subscriber had ever entered the premises. On the door itself the name of the Society was pai

letters. On this occasion all seemed in order. No restive subscriber waited on the landing; no emissary of the law, masquerading as a stargazer, lounged in th

ined half a dozen letters, which he opened a

t is to expose humbugs. Dill, his chief, possessed this quality in perfection, with a strong dash of cynicism thrown in. He knew that righteous wrath was wasted upon the tribe of quacks and sharpers. He never invoked the assistance of the law against such gentry. He preferred the infinitely more amusing plan of exposing their methods in co

t the "Searchlight" was above suspicion. It had never attempted to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, for the excellent reason that such a proceeding would have bored its proprietor. Dill harried the unjust, not from any special feel

ious Thursday, for that astute emissary always made his call for the letters about eight o'clock in the morning: so Turner was still

beheld a middle-aged, military-looking gentleman perusing letters. The

ning. The sleuth-hound replied in suitable terms, and embarked upon a tactful yet

nvenient situation of the office and the tasteful character of its furniture and appointments. So, hastily reining back his opening sentence, which began: "This

ce to a circular which yo

lied Uncle J

nds for the International Bro

ir envelopes. "But tell me, how do you know that it was I who sent you a circula

Brotherhood of Kind Young Hearts?

d indulgently, and

? Charity begins in a home, you know. That being the case, I rather fancy your Kind-He

ienced, was no fool. Otherwise he would not h

ation addresses," he said, regarding Uncle Joseph k

nodded comp

ee. Well, Mr.-I don't th

rne

. You will have to seek them in some other eyrie. You see, I have been in possession of this

way that Mr. Turner found it quite impossible to read

eph briskly, "or I may have more investigators descending upon me. N

"that you are not the Secretary of the organ

eph laugh

. Turner, you fill me with guilty apprehensions. It is a great gift of yours. May I ask if you are a represent

at he was being bluffed, but Uncle

the 'Searchli

fer you a lift back to the office. I am going to call on Mr. Dill at twel

eded cheerfully down the staircase, follo

ncle Joseph was sha

aled to justice by one of your bright young

cigarette,-it was said that he got through

I always send him where I think there is a likelihood of any chucking-out being attempted. I am quite at sea about this Kind Heart business. It is evidently a biggish affair,

rities going?" enquired Unc

led white either by knaves like this fellow who runs the Kind Hearts, or a parcel of incompetent sentimental old women who wast

ocket-book, and counted o

re you are-fifty for the free dinners and fifty for

ered up t

nded less like a raven's than usual,-

ng," said U