Vell--vell--ain't dot funny?
But he vasn't a dead beat--no, I don't tink so.

An' he stole it?
You vud never tink dot to see him.

I got it in my little office, behind dot partition, in a drawer.

You come along.

To-morrow is New Year's"-- here he glanced up the stairs to be sure that Masie was out of hearing--"and I bought dat lace for a present for my little girl vat you saw joost now--she loves dem old tings.