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186 5 You won’t be fr 6 Well,” replied the other. 6 You won’t be—too—violent, Bill ?" whined the Jew. The day was breaking, and there was light enough for the men to see each other’s faces. They exchanged one brief th which could not be mistaken. “]T mean,” said Fagin, showing that he felt all disguise was now useless—* not too violent for safety. Be crafty, Bill, and not too bold.” Sikes made no reply; but, pulling open the door of which the Jew had turned the lock, dashed into the silent streets. Without one pause or moment’s consideration, without once turning his head to the right or left, or raising his eyes to the sky, or lowering them to the ground, but looking straight before him with savage resolution, his teeth so tightly compressed, that the strained jaw seemed starting through his skin, the robber held on his headlong course, nor muttered a word, nor relaxed a muscle, until he reached his own door. He opened it softly with a key, strode lightly up the stairs, and entering his own room, doublelocked the door, and lifting a heavy table ae it, drew back the curtain of the The girl was lying half-dressed upon it. He had roused her from her sleep, for she raised herself with a hurried and startled look. “ Get up,” said the man. “Jt is you, Bill!" cried the girl], with an expression of pleasure at his return. “It is,” was the reply. " Get up.” There was a candle burning, but the man hastily drew it from the candlestick and hurled it under the grate. Seeing the faint light of early day without, the girl rose to undraw the curtain. 6 Let it be,” said Sikes, thrusting his hand before her. ‘“ There’s light enough for what I’ve got to do.” 6 Bill,” said the gir in the low voice of alarm. ‘ Why do you look like that at me!" The robber sat regarding her for a few seconds with dilated nostrils and heaving breast, and then grasping her by the head and throat, dragged her into the middle of the room, and looking once towards the door, placed his heavy hand upon her mouth. —won’t scream or cry—not once—hear me—speak to me—tell me what I have done.” “You know, you she-devil,’”’ returned the robber, suppressing his breath. “ You were watched to-night; and every word you said was heard.” “Then spare my life, for the love of Heaven, as I spared yours,” rejoined the girl, clinging to him, ‘ Bill, dear Bull, you cannot have the heart to kill me. Oh! think of all I have given up this one night fer you. You shall have time to think and save yourself this crime; I will not loose my hold, you cannot throw me off. Bill, Bill, for dear Gods sake, for your own, for mine, stop before you spill my blood. I have been true to you, upon my guilty soul I have.” The man struggled violently to release his arms, but those of the girl were clasped round his, and tear her as he would, he could not tear them away. “ Bill,” cried the girl, striving to lay her head upon his breast, “ the gentleman and that dear lady told me to-night of a home in some foreign country, where I could end my days in solitude and peace. Let me see them again, and beg them on my knees to show the same mercy and goodness to you, and let us both leave this dreadful place, and, far apart, lead better lives, and forget how we have lived, except in prayers, and never see each other more, It is never too late to repent. They told me so; I feel it now; but we must have time—a little, little time !” The housebreaker freed one arm, and grasped his pistol. The certainty of immediate detection if he fired, flashed across his mind, even in the midst of his fury, and he beat it twice, with all the force he could summon, upon the upturned face that almost touched his own. She staggered and fell, nearly blinded deep gash in her forehead, but raising herself with difficulty on her knees, drew from her bosom a white handkerchief— Rose Maylie’s own—and holding it up in her folded hands as high towards heaven as her feeble strength would let her, It was a ghastly figure to look upon. The murderer, staggering backward to the wall, and shutting out the sight with his hand, seized a heavy club and struck her down,
