once more rapidly gaining on my adversary, when I suddenly bethought me of my revolver. I was passing a lamp-post when I drew it, shouting as I did so, 'Down, or I'll fire!' He turned, and realising that I had something glittering in my hand, instantly obeyed the unanswerable argument of the six-shooter, and collapsed. The next moment he was assured beyond doubt of the nature of the weapon, the muzzle of which, as he lay prone on the pavement, I drew across his face, asking him persuasively if he would care to become yet better acquainted with its peculiarities. The policeman having by this time joined me, we marched him off to the police station, when we met the sergeant and constable converging with yet another miscreant on the same spot. So much for burglars, as far as my small experience goes; but I mustn't forget the footpad of Coldharbour Lane, Brixton -physically, a very different character. It happened that about ten o'clock one night, being at the farthest end of Coldharbour Lane from the Brixton Road, I stopped to inquire my way of a small, mouse-like, consumptivelooking individual, who, in a poor little weak voice, replied that as he was himself going in that same direction, he would show me. To those who are unacquainted with Coldharbour Lane, I would say—it is a spot where they would hesitate to 'meet me by moonlight alone,' or any one else, unless perfectly assured of the lamblike nature of him who proposed such a place of rendezvous. In this case my companion was beyond reproach, as far as external appearances were concerned, and thus my astonishment may be better imagined than described, when that diminutive individual, after a preliminary cough or two, turned and assumed, to the best of his small ability, the rôle of a bloodthirsty footpad. Rushing a few steps in advance of me, he turned, and in a voice husky with nervousness, said— 'Gi' me yer money, or I'll settle yer!' Be it remembered he had no weapons with which to argue the settlement in question, but, seeing he was as much in earnest as such a poor pinched-up pigmy could be, I called him several names which were more powerful than polite, and then, finding he was still defiant, sent that already half-starved little highwayman flying against a neighbouring wall, at the foot of which he collapsed, and proceeded to howl pathetically. Thus it was that, after I asked him if he was really quite sure he could not rob me, I listened to his sad story, which he then and there proceeded to tell. the fust time to-night, sir ; The fust gentleman, as was "Tisn't,' he said, 'as if it was that's where it is-it's the third. a-comin' from his club the wus for whisky-'e rolls on me, the second kicks me, an' now you 'its me up agin this 'ere wall. A BLOODTHIRSTY FOOTPAD. It's no good-I won't try agin; I ain't made for it, that's the long an' the short of it.' This was told in the most melancholy strain; and the little man was right indeed in the last conclusion. 'But there are surely many honest things you might do,' I interrupted. 'That's where it is, sir. You see, I tried 'em all, leastways what I thought I could do. I ain't big enough for some guvnors, and too little for others, and so that's 'ow I've come down and down from one thing to another, till yesterday, when I'd only twopence in my pocket and not a bit of food in me inside since the day afore that, when I went and took it-the twopence, I mean-and spent the lot on matches. They gives yer twelve for twopence at the large shops, yer know, sir. Well, if you'll believe me, I begged that 'ard with them there blessed matches all day long, and never sold one on 'em. I slep' out on the Embankment larst night, and begun again early this mornin', getting 'arf famished as the day went on. Yer see, sir, it must be that I ain't got the knack o' the professional beggar, or somethin', for here's all them twelve boxes in my pocket at this moment, just as I bought 'em the day afore yesterday. No, it ain't no lies, it's the honest truth; for 'ere they be, as yer can see for yerself. From the knocking about I've 'ad, it's a mercy as they ain't all gone off. Well, at eight o'clock to-night I give up honesty as a bad job, and took to the road; and 'ere I am agin this 'ere wall, an' no further on the way to getting a crust than afore.' Suffice it to say, after asking him if he was quite certain he could not take it by force, I gave him a shilling; and when we eventually arrived together in the Brixton Road, I bade adieu and bon voyage to my friend the footpad, a creature who would not have had the ghost of a chance with the most nervous traveller or most intoxicated reveller. Ah yes; ghost of a chance-just so! That reminds me that I have not, in reference to my Chelsea studio, exhausted altogether my ghostly experiences. I have, of course, several times in my life stayed at so-called haunted houses, and once or twice slept in rooms with an uncanny reputation; indeed, who has not? But the incident I would now introduce concerns certain curious manifestations which took place when I lived at Number One. Yes, Number One; that will be quite sufficient for my present purpose, without giving the address in full, in which case intending purchasers might be prejudiced; or the present residents there, if it be let, have fears aroused which are now groundless. About twelve years ago I took this house on advantageous terms, as far as rent went, though a seven years' repairing lease was a sine qua non. Suffice it to say it was in a London suburb, and was just such a place as an artist with an eye to quaint picturesqueness would be likely to look on with favour, and few others would care to seriously consider. Oh yes, there was plenty for the money at Number One; indeed, more-much more-than was included in the lease. The rooms were large and effectively decorated, and lent themselves in a peculiar way, as some rooms do, to the display of artistic taste. The 'hall,' unlike the narrow passage which generally enjoys that distinction, was square and commodious; the stairs leading to the rooms on the first floor were broad and pleasant of ascent, while those which took one still further aloft, to a suite of rooms which—useless to me as a bachelor— I left in possession of the spiders, were narrow and creaky. At eventide in summer the fitful shadows from neighbouring trees, combined with those of a grape-vine of very ancient growth, fell athwart the tall French windows and played hideand-seek on the carpets of the ground floor, or danced on the low verandah which communicated by steps with the garden. Such was Number One, when I, for a term of seven years, took possession of it. 6 6 I had two servants, a man and his wife; the garden requiring the former's attention. From time to time I had one and sometimes two bachelor friends staying with me; but still, notwithstanding this, there was a certain gloominess which pervaded the whole place, and which so far communicated itself to the servants that 'they couldn't abide it,' the man declaring he felt creepy,' and his young spouse seeing carrupses,' as she called them, whichever way she looked. Indeed, she was once in hysterics the greater part of the night. Thus it was I began to repent somewhat of my bargain, especially since, from time to time, my bachelor visitors assured me that the alarm of my two domestics was not altogether unfounded, as they too had heard unaccountable noises. In fact, unwilling as I was to admit it even to myself, I also on several occasions was aroused by sounds as of the moving of furniture from place to place, with now and then a heavy thud as of the falling of some weighty substance. Still, with all its uncanny peculiarities, the old place had a peculiar charm for me; so that when, shortly afterwards, I lost my heart, and found myself engaged to be married, I cast all such uncanny ideas at once to the winds. Indeed, I had looked on them in some sense as absurd from the first, and so, with a liberal application of fresh paint and whitewash, together with new servants, we cheerfully returned from our honeymoon. I here should incidentally mention, that a mutual friend, a gentleman, came shortly after our return to spend some weeks with us. Time elapsed, and nothing whatever happening, I came to the conclusion that it must have been the loneliness of my previous state which had induced my belief in the assertions of my bachelor friends, and that the fears of the servants had, as I supposed, been brought about by penny dreadfuls. With these wholesome reflections the third week had nearly passed, when one night—our friend having gone to a dinner-party, and taken with him (as he was not expected home till late) the latch-key-we retired early. It must have been about the witching hour, when I was aroused by my wife, who, nudging me, said in a low whisper 'Did you hear anything? That can't be Charlie; he's not come in yet. Besides, it's such an odd noise, like some one banging things about.' We both listened intently, my memories of similar sounds now rebuking me for having kept the secret from my wife, and not having led up in some way to the possibility of their recurrence. We had not to wait long, for the next moment—rumble ! -tumble-crash!-bang! I was out of bed in no time; partially dressed, I seized a candlestick in one hand and in the other an old-fashioned pistol, which formed part of a little trophy of arms that hung in my bedroom, and was on my way to the empty rooms above, from which direction the sound proceeded. Dead silence now pervaded the whole house; the sensation that I was being peered at by unseen eyes only being, I conclude, induced by nervousness. Presently, however, while continuing my investigations— crash!―rumble !-tumble !—this time the sound proceeded from the first floor, which I had just left. Flying down-stairs again, I ricochetted against my wife, who, having heard the same sound up-stairs, was on the point of rushing up to me, each at the same moment asking— 'Did you hear that? Have you seen anything?' We then proceeded on a tour of inspection, which brought us eventually to the hall, when, already in a state of nervous excitement, we were attracted by a rattling sound. It was nothing more formidable, however, than the latch-key. The U |