"I have, ma'am! They were more than kind to me, I must say. Yes, I've been there four or five times. I--I didn't do all the knives the first day I was there, nor yet the second. Their knives was in poor shape--" He paused and looked helplessly into the kind, shrewd gray eyes. "I--I don't know as I was in any too great hurry about them knives!" he faltered. "I--fact is, I give consid'able time to 'em; took a couple one day and another couple another. Pleasant place, and nice folks, you understand--and--I told you about them two mean guys--" Mrs. Appleby said she did understand. And what did Pippin propose to do next? she asked. Why, that was just what he was studyin' over; he was just puttin' that up to himself when he ran across the kiddo just now. Whether to wait round a bit and watch till he was a mite surer than what he was--and yet he _was_ sure, knowin' them two and their ways--or up and tell the Boss thus and so, and let him do as he der--as he thought fit. "I've got a hunch," said Pippin, "that I'd better tell him right away. What say?" "I say you are right!" Mrs. Appleby spoke with decision. "I'll do it! I'll do it before I sleep to-night. Maybe he'll think of some way to hasten matters up a mite. If they're goin' to do him up, I wish't they'd get at it, so's we can round 'em up and me get off on my business. Not but it _is_ my business to stop such doin's every time I see a chance. I wish you good mornin' lady, and I'm a thousand times obliged to you." He departed, and Mrs. Appleby sat down and wrote a note to Miss Mary Flower, care of John E. Aymer, Esq., Cor. Smith and Brown Streets, City. CHAPTER XVII THREE TETE-A-TETES "It's a rum start!" said Mr. John Aymer. "It certainly is queer!" said Mrs. John Aymer. "I don't like it one bit, John. I do wish Lawrence was back." "Sent for him over there, did they? One of his pet lambs in trouble? Well, he'll be back on the night train, for to-morrow is the final cakewalk of his old Conference. But as far as immediate plans are concerned, I'm afraid, my dear, you will have to put up with yours truly. Now, this--what's his name? Lippitt? Pippit?" "Something like that! I didn't quite make it out." "Say Pippit! Certainly _seems_ to be a decent chap. Tells a straight story, too. Knows this fellow Brown for a crook. We didn't ask him _how_ he knew--" "It wasn't necessary, John. I have _never_ liked the man's looks. I spoke to Babbitt about him, and he said he had taken him on trial for three months, and he seemed a smart fellow, and that was all he knew. Of course I couldn't ask Babbitt to discharge him because I didn't like his looks, now could I?" "--but we can find out about that later!" Mr. Aymer went on calmly. "Has seen Brown chinning with a pal--" "John! I do wish you were not so slangy!"