fool as to ask him for just one mean
little franc; ask for five. I'll use two or three of them; tell him you'll
pay him again in a week."

Blasi seemed rather undecided.

"I should have gone to him long ago," he said, "but his mother is always
about, and she looks at a fellow as a bird does when somebody is trying to
rob her nest. I'm afraid of her."

"Poh! it's all right enough to borrow a little money if you're going to
pay it back again. Don't be a fool! Go along!" and Jost enforced his
advise with an emphatic shove that sent Blasi rolling along much faster
than he wished to go. He grumbled a little at this unpleasant style of
progression, and muttered between his teeth,

"He's no right to treat me so; I'm as good as he is, any day."

When he reached Gertrude's garden, he stood still and looked over the
hedge. Dietrich's mother was there, planting her vegetable bed. He
sauntered back and forth for awhile, and when he saw her go to the other
corner of the garden, he thought he could now get without being seen, into
the room where he heard Dietrich whistling at his work. He went round the
garden, and was just going in at the back gate, when he came plump against
Gertrude. He went by quickly as if he had had no idea of going in; and
then hung about watching his chance, but as time did not stand still
while he waited, it was bye-and-bye eleven o'clock, and he had to go off
to ring the noon bell.

In the afternoon, neighbor Judith was hoeing in her little garden. Blasi
stood hesitating in his door-way, and then came out and stood watching her
at her work.

"I am always surprised, Blasi," said Judith, looking up from her work, "to
see you in company with a fellow, who steals your money from your pockets,
before you know it is there. I would not have anything to do with such a
one."

"What? who?" asked Blasi, fumbling in his empty pockets. "Who picks my
pockets? Who are you talking about? I know I did have some; I wish you
would tell me the thief."

"I'll tell no tales," said