"How do you know them?" asked Billy, for they looked like any other eggs to him.
"Do you think I can't recognize a fresh egg when I see him—oh! I know them—their mother thinks because they have had their names in the grocer's window that they can't turn out bad, but I've known some terrible ones in that family."
Billy felt almost relieved when they reached the jail. "In with you," said Al Bumen. "By the way, have you ever had the Chicken Pox?"
"No, sir," said Billy.
"Well, you must be vaccinated at once; I wouldn't have you catch it and break out now that you are safely here."
"I warn you I shall try to," said Billy, in a temper.
"I give you leave to try, but it's useless to try to leave—you can thank your lucky stars you weren't put in the incubator instead of in here."
"The incubator?" asked Billy.
"Yes—the Orphan Asylum—it's a terribly hot place; an egg that goes in there never comes out the same," said Al Bumen, gravely.
"Oh, I know," said Billy; "it changes them into chicks."