til

When darkness had settled, De Vac pushed the skiff outward to the side of the dock and gathering the sleeping child in his arms stood listening, preparatory to mounting to the alley which led to old Til's place.

We have met with no success here, though that old hag who called herself Til seemed overanxious to bargain for the future information she seemed hopeful of being able to give us."

No further noises occurring to frighten him he soon reached the door to Til's house and inserting the key crept noiselessly to the garret room which he had rented from his ill-favored hostess.

While the child ate, De Vac hastened to the lower floor of the building in search of Til whom he now thoroughly mistrusted and feared.

Still clad as he was in the mantle and wimple of an old woman, Til did not, at first, recognize him, and when he spoke she burst into a nervous, cackling laugh, as one caught in the perpetration of some questionable act, nor did her manner escape the shrewd notice of the wily master of fence.