Muffit, and we arranged that Artful 'Arry should come down at
seven o'clock next night, if so be as I could find 'im in time.
"I got up early the next arternoon, and as it 'appened, he came into the
'Duke of Edinburgh' five minutes arter I got there. Nasty temper 'e was
in, too. He'd just found a meerschaum pipe, as usual, and the very fust
man 'e tried to sell it to said that it was the one 'e lost last
Christmas, and gave 'im a punch in the jaw for it.
"'He's a thief, that's wot he is,' ses 'Arry; 'and I 'ate thiefs. 'Ow's
a honest tradesman to make a living when there's people like that about?'
"I stood 'im 'arf a pint, and though it hurt 'im awful to drink it, he
said 'ed 'ave another just to see if he could bear the pain. Arter he
had 'ad three 'e began for to take a more cheerful view o' life, and told
me about a chap that spent three weeks in the London 'Orsepittle for
calling 'im a liar.
"'Treat me fair,' he ses, 'and I'll treat other people fair. I never
broke my word without a good reason for it, and that's more than
everybody can say. If I told you the praise I've 'ad from some people
you wouldn't believe it.'
"I let 'im go on till he 'ad talked 'imself into a good temper, and then I
told 'im of the little job I 'ad got for 'im. He listened quiet till I
'ad finished, and then he shook 'is 'ead.
"'It ain't in my line,' he ses.
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