Pallid of cheek and drooping of head Spike stood in the doorway, his shabby, threadbare clothes dusty and travel-stained, his slender shape encircled by the Spider's long arm. At Hermione's cry he lifted his head and looked up yearningly, his sensitive mouth quivered, his long-lashed eyes swam in sudden tears, he strove to speak but choked instead; then Ravenslee's calm, pleasant voice broke the painful silence. "Old Un," said he, rising, "I understand you are fond of jam--well, from now on you shall bathe in it if you wish." "Spoke like a true sport, Guv!" "Why, you see, you have surely done me a very great service." "Meanin' because I found ye th' murderer." "Murderer?" exclaimed Ravenslee, staring. "Why, yes--there 'e is!" and the old man pointed a long finger at the shrinking Spike. "Old Un," said Ravenslee, shaking his head, "don't joke with me--" "I--I ain't jokin', Guv," cried the Old Un, rising. "Why--oh, Lorgorramighty, you don't mean t' say as this ain't 'im? Why, 'e 's confessed, Guv; I 'eard 'im!" Ravenslee smiled gently and shook his head again. "But he has been sick, Old Un; he was hurt, you know, when he saved my life." "But, Lord, Guv, if 'e 's confessed--" "He has been sick, Old Un, and when we are sick the wisest of us are apt to say silly things--even I did, so they tell me." "What?" quavered the old man, "ain't I--ain't I found no murderer for ye, arter all, Guv?" "You've done something much, very much better, Old Un--you've found me my brother!" "Brother!" echoed Spike, "brother? Oh, Geoff--" he sighed deeply, and as Ravenslee crossed toward him he smiled wanly and sank swooning into the supporting arms of the Spider, who at a word from Hermione bore the boy up-stairs; but scarcely was he laid upon his bed than he opened his heavy eyes. "Say, Spider," said he wearily, "old Geoff sure does play square--even to a worm like me--well, I guess! No, don't go yet, I want yer to hear me try to explain the kind o' dirty dog I been--I guess he won't want t' call me 'brother' after that; no, siree, he'll cut me out same as you have an' serve me right too." Then turning toward where Ravenslee and Hermione stood he continued: "Geoff--Hermy, dear--ah, no, don't touch me, I ain't worth it. I'm too dirty--Spider says so--an' I guess he's right. Listen--I meant t' go away t'day an' leave you because I felt so mean, but th' old man followed me, an' I couldn't run because my arm pained some--y' see, I fell on it. So I let him bring me back because I guess it's up t' me t' let you know as I ain't fit t' be your brother, Geoff--or Hermy's." For a moment Spike paused, then with an effort he continued but kept his face averted. "Geoff, it was me--in the wood that time! Yes, it was me, an' I had a gun. I--I meant--t' do you in, Geoff--"