Out came a well-worn case , and Dick proudly displayed the likeness of a stout , much bejewelled young woman with two staring infants on her knee . In his sight , the poor picture was a more perfect work of art than any of Sir Joshua 's baby-beauties , or Raphael 's Madonnas , and the little story needed no better sequel than the young father 's praises of his twins , the covert kiss he gave their mother when he turned as if to get a clearer light upon the face . Ashamed to show the tenderness that filled his honest heart , he hummed `` Kingdom Coming , '' relit his cigar , and presently began to talk again . `` Now , then , Flint , it 's your turn to keep guard , and Thorn 's to tell his romance . Come , do n't try to shirk ; it does a man good to talk of such things , and we 're all mates here . '' `` In some cases it do n't do any good to talk of such things ; better let 'em alone , '' muttered Thorn , as he reluctantly sat down , while Flint as reluctantly departed . With a glance and gesture of real affection , Phil laid his hand upon his comrade 's knee , saying in his persuasive voice , `` Old fellow , it will do you good , because I know you often long to speak of something that weighs upon you . You 've kept us steady many a time , and done us no end of kindnesses ; why be too proud to let us give our sympathy in return , if nothing more ? '' Thorn 's big hand closed over the slender one upon his knee , and the mild expression , so rarely seen upon his face , passed over it as he replied , -- `` I think I could tell you almost anything if you asked me that way , my boy . It is n't that I am too proud , -- and you 're right about my sometimes wanting to free my mind , -- but it 's because a man of forty do n't just like to open out to young fellows , if there is any danger of their laughing at him , though he may deserve it . I guess there is n't now , and I 'll tell you how I found my wife . '' Dick sat up , and Phil drew nearer , for the earnestness that was in the man dignified his plain speech , and inspired an interest in his history , even before it was begun . Looking gravely at the river and never at his hearers , as if still a little shy of confidants , yet grateful for the relief of words , Thorn began abruptly : -- `` I never hear the number eighty-four without clapping my hand to my left breast and missing my badge . You know I was on the police in New York , before the war , and that 's about all you do know yet . One bitter cold night I was going my rounds for the last time , when , as I turned a corner , I saw there was a trifle of work to be done . It was a bad part of the city , full of dirt and deviltry ; one of the streets led to a ferry , and at the corner an old woman had an apple-stall . The poor soul had dropped asleep , worn out with the cold , and there were her goods left with no one to watch 'em . Somebody was watching 'em . however ; a girl , with a ragged shawl over her head , stood at the mouth of an alley close by , waiting for a chance to grab something . I 'd seen her there when I went by before , and mistrusted she was up to some mischief ; as I turned the corner , she put out her hand and cribbed an apple .
She saw me the minute she did it , but neither dropped it nor ran , only stood stock still with the XXXXX in her hand till I came up . ''
apple case earnestness fellow girl glance infants man tenderness voice