She shut the door, and turned calmly to Violet. "How much did you get?" she asked. "Why, Miss Rose, you know----" "I mean what did you touch him for? You mustn't play that sort of game here: it gives the house a bad name. But just this once we'll divide up an' not say anything more about it." Violet's eyes opened wide. "I didn't steal a penny," she declared. Rose regarded her with a softening countenance. "Word of honor?" she asked. "Word of honor," vowed Violet. "All right, but even if you do touch them, you mustn't ever let them _think_ you do. A man'll forgive you for hurtin' him anywhere but in his pocket-book.--You're all worked up, dearie. Come on out to the kitchen an' have a bottle of beer." As they were pouring the drinks, a heavy foot sounded in the outside passageway and a careful four knocks followed upon the rear door. "That's Larry," said Rose, and drew the bolt. A policeman's hat was poked through the doorway, followed by a flushed, genial Irish face, and a tall, hulking body in regulation uniform. "I'm terrible dry," grinned Larry. "Then you've come to the right shop," was Rose's greeting. "We're just havin' a little drop ourselves. Larry, this is my new friend, Violet." The policeman grinned again, and sat carefully upon the edge of a kitchen-chair, in evident fear that his bulk might prove too great for it. "Glad to know you," he said. "Larry's on this beat nights," Rose explained to Violet, "an' him an' the lieutenant look after us--don't you, Riley?" "Well, what use is a frind if he don't take care of yez, Miss Rose? We do the bist we can." "I know that.--What'll it be, Larry? We're takin' beer, but there's wine on the ice if you want it." "I'll just have a small drap of liquor, ma'am, please," said Riley. Rose poured and handed to him a glass of whiskey. "When you came by," she inquired, "did you see a fat man throwin' fits in our gutter?" "Why, I did not. Have ye been afther havin' a rumpus the night?" "Oh, no--only that fat little fellow that keeps the jewelry-store around the corner. He was drunk, an' I threw him out. If he tries to get gay, let me know, will you?" "Of course I'll let ye know--an' here's to your very good health, ma'am an' miss.--But you may rist aisy; that there won't be no throuble." "I know that: he's too scared of his wife.--Have another, won't you?" The officer rose. "No, thank ye kindly," he said. "I wanted but the drap, ma'am." "And how are Mrs. Riley and the children?" Larry's face became a web of smiling wrinkles. "Grand," he said; "the auld woman's grand--you ought to see her in the new silk dress I bought 'er the day--all grane wid fancy trimmin's from Six' Avenoo. An' the kiddies is thrivin'. Cecilia'll soon be havin' to go to work an' help the family funds, she's that sthrong and hearty, an' young Van Wyck is such a divil that the teacher throwed him out of school. He's licked all the b'ys in his class, an' I think he'll end as a champeen pug."