"I have one," replied Ann, prudently declining to divulge her secret; "and when I've tried it, I'll tell you all about it." "Why don't you try it now?" "I would if my candy wasn't broken." "I will let you have mine." "Then I will." "Give me fourteen cents." "I will when I've done with it." "No, you don't," laughed Julia, who justly inferred that if Ann would cheat one person, she would another. But Ann was so much interested in the experiment that she decided to give the fourteen cents, and took the candy. Katy wondered what the new game could be, and wanted to see her carry it out, though her conscience smote her for permitting the lady to be deceived, when she could have unmasked the deceit. She resolved not to let another person be deceived, and followed the two girls into State Street, as much for the purpose of exposing Ann's wickedness, as to learn the trick she intended to play. "Now you go away," said Ann to her companion, as she placed herself on the steps of the Merchants-Bank. It was nearly dark by this time, and as there were but few persons in the street, Ann did not commence her part of the performance till she saw a well-dressed gentleman approach; whereupon she began to cry as she had done twice before that day. "Boo, hoo, hoo! O, dear me! I shall be killed!" cried she, so lustily, that the well-dressed gentleman could not decently avoid inquiring the cause of her bitter sorrow. "I haven't sold out," sobbed Ann. "What if you haven't? Why need you cry about it?" asked the stranger. "My mother will kill me if I go home without half a dollar." "She is a cruel woman, then." "Boo, hoo, hoo! She'll beat me to death! O, dear me! I only got ten cents." "Why don't you fly round and sell your candy?" said the gentleman. "I can't now, the folks have all gone, and it's almost dark. O, I wish I was dead!" "Well, well, don't cry any more; I'll give you half a dollar, and that will make it all right;" and he put his hand in his pocket for the money. "Don't give it to her," said Katy, stepping out of the lane by the side of the bank. "She has deceived you, sir." "Deceived me, has she?" added the stranger as he glanced at Katy. "Yes, sir. She has got more than a dollar in her pocket now." "Don't you believe her," sobbed Ann, still prudently keeping up the appearance of grief. "How do you know she has deceived me?" asked the stranger, not a little piqued, as he thought how readily he had credited the girl's story. "Because I saw her play a trick just like this twice before this afternoon. She has two half dollars in her pocket now, though one of them is counterfeit." "What do you mean by that, Katy Redburn?" demanded Ann, angrily, and now forgetting her woe and her tears. "You speak very positively," said the gentleman to Katy; "and if what you say is true, something should be done about it." "She is telling lies!" exclaimed Ann, much excited.