Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Oldport days, with ten heliotype illustrations from views taken in Newport, R. I., expressly for this work.

“ [167] no more 'n the truth, but he might tell that. Tell 'em about Gerty, you nincum! Tell 'em about the snakes. Tell 'em what Comstock is. 'T ain't the real original Comstock” (this to the policeman), “it's only another that used to perform with him in Comstock Brothers. This one can't swaller, so we leave out the knives.”

“ Where's ta other?” said the sententious policeman, whose ears were always open for suspicious disappearances.

“ Did n't you hear?” cried the incredulous lady. “Scattered! Gone! Went off one day with a box of snakes and two monkeys. Come, now, you must have heard. We had a sight of trouble payina detectives.”

“What for a looking fellow was he?” said the policeman.

“Dark complected,” was the reply. “Black mustache. He understood his business, I tell you now. Swallered five or six knives to onst, and give good satisfaction to any audience. It was him that brought us Gerty and Anne,--that's the other little girl. I did n't know as they was his children, and didn't know as they was, but ”