"I shall go up to him, you keeping in the background, accost him by his real name, and worm myself into his confidence, the end of which will be that I shall get all his money and valuables out of him in some saloon." "That's cheating," said Tommy, bluntly. "I know it's a State's prison offense; but a man must live, and I'm too far gone to work now," replied Thompson. Putting down his pipe, and replacing his hat on his head, he told Tommy to accompany him to Broadway to make his first attempt at the game of confidence. Thompson was not yet acquainted with Tommy's aptitude for making blunders, or he would not have been so pleased at getting him as a decoy for unwary strangers. They walked on till they came near Grand Street, where Thompson saw an individual upon whom he thought he could practice. He was tall and gaunt, with a restless, inquisitive air, looking into shop windows, and staring about him as if everything was new and he wanted to take in all he could during a limited stay in the city. "Here's the bloke!" exclaimed Thompson. "Go and do what I told you, and leave me to play him for a sucker." "All right," answered Tommy. The boy approached the stranger, and pulling his sleeve, accosted him, saying: "How are you, Mr. Jennings?" The man stopped abruptly, and with a sharp, clear eye scanned his face. Instead of answering as Tommy expected, he exclaimed: "How long have you been at this game, bub?" "Not long, sir," replied Tommy, in his simple way. "I only started on it just now." "As I thought. Who put you up to it?" "That man behind, sir, who is leaning against the lamp-post." "If I told you my name you were to fall back and tell him, and then he'd come up to me?" "Yes, sir," he said, "you were a greenhorn, and he'd play you for a sucker." The tall man smiled. "He never made a greater mistake in his life," was the reply. "I'm pretty well posted on all these tricks, and I've paid for my experience." "What will I say to him?" asked Tommy. The tall man advanced to where Thompson was waiting, but when the latter saw him coming he concluded that something was wrong, and ran. A chase ensued. Thompson ran into the arms of an officer, who held him till the tall man came up. "What's the charge?" asked the officer. "He tried to play confidence on me. I'm a detective connected with Central office. Take him to headquarters, while I find the boy. You know me, officer. I'm Maccabe." "I guess I ought to," answered the policeman. "Curse the boy! Did he give me away?" asked Thompson. "In the worst way, but without meaning it," was the answer. "If I'd known he was such a fool, I'd never have traveled with him," growled Thompson, bestowing some choice oaths on Tommy, "and when I come out, after doing the time I suppose you'll give me, I'll have satisfaction out of his hide." "Stop your chinning. You're my prisoner," said the officer, hauling him off to Mulberry Street.