"Yes--the Orphan Asylum--it's a terribly hot place; an egg that goes in there never comes out the same," said Al Bumen, gravely. "Oh, I know," said Billy; "it changes them into chicks." "Yes--it's capital punishment; they either come out entirely bad or with fowl natures. It's enough to make one chicken-hearted to think of it." Billy was shown into his cell and the door was locked. "Why--who are you?" said he, in surprise. For when his eyes got used to the darkness he discovered that he had a cell mate. A shaven-headed, heavy-jawed egg yawned and sat up on the cake-of-ice cot he had been lying on. "Me? I'm Boiled Egg." "What--what have you done, sir?" said Billy, hoping it wasn't murder. "That's the trouble," said Boiled Egg, sulkily; "I'm overdone--got into hot water last night and they arrested me for a hard character this morning. I believe the charge is salt and peppery." "That's too bad," said Billy, sympathetically. "It is that--but they'd better look out, or I'll turn into an Easter Egg and dye on their hands," said he, fiercely. "Tap--tap--tap," came from the wall. "What's that?" asked Billy. "Oh! a couple of softies in the next cell." "Who are they?" "The Poachers--Ham Omelet found them trapping a rasher of bacon on his property and had them arrested--they've been put on toast and water for punishment. By the way, do you know what they have done with Nest Egg?" "Who?" asked Billy. "Nest Egg--the laundryman?" "No, I've never heard of him; what has he done?" "He was arrested for impersonating an egg," said Boiled Egg, "and it served him right, because he never could be served any other way, you know." "Why?" asked Billy. "Well, in the first place, he came here from China, and I tell you we Union eggs are all down on Chinese labor. What chance has an honest, hard-working egg against that sort of a fellow. I say, crack his head open, that's the only thing that should be done to him." "Goodness! That ice makes it damp in here; I believe I'm taking cold--catch--choo--catch--choo," and Billy sneezed twice. "Gehsundheit!" said a voice in his ear. [Illustration: _Gehsundheit_] "Did you speak, Mr. Boiled Egg?" asked Billy, surprised. "No; please be quiet and let me sleep," said Boiled Egg, sleepily. "Gehsundheit!" And this time Billy turned his head and saw a little snuff-colored fellow sitting on his shoulder, with the funniest little face he had ever seen. His eyes were puckered up, his nose wrinkled and his mouth open, so that he looked for all the world as if he were going to sneeze any minute. In his coat pocket he carried a very life-like stuffed rabbit. "Who are you?" asked Billy. "Gehsundheit!" "And what is that?" "A Cherman Count--and amateur presti-indigestion-tater, or magician--you haf called me--alreatty am I here." "I didn't call you." "Ogscuse me, but did you not schneeze?" "Yes," said Billy.