“Is Frear wanted?” she demanded.
Mr. Tiernan's expression changed. His nose seemed to become more pointed, his eyes to twinkle more merrily than ever. He didn't take the trouble, now, to conceal his admiration.
“Sure, Miss Bumpus,” he said, “if you was a man, we'd have you on the force to-morrow.”
“What's he wanted for?”
“Well,” said Johnny, “a little matter of sprinklin'. He's been sprinklin' his company's water without a license.”
She was silent a moment before she exclaimed:—“I ought to have been wise that he was a crook!”
“Well,” said Johnny consolingly, “there's others that ought to have been wise, too. The Cascade people had no business takin' on a man that couldn't use but half of his mouth.”
This seemed to Lise a reflection on her judgment. She proceeded to clear herself.
“He was nothing to me. He never gave me no rest. He used to come 'round and pester me to go out with him—”
“Sure!” interrupted Mr. Tiernan. “Don't I know how it is with the likes of him! A good time's a good time, and no harm in it. But the point is” and here he cocked his nose—“the point is, where is he? Where will he be tonight?”