“SLUKER,” he repeated, gazing absently at the distant spire; “SLUKER,” he reiterated, rubbing his nose abstractedly with the handle of his umbrella; “SLUKER,” he continued—­

—­in my next, my dear PUNCHINELLO, in my next.

 SAGINAW DODD.

[To be continued.]

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Sauce

There can be no doubt that Grevy is in the right place, as a member of the Provisional government of France.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Old Gent.  “Don’t scatter water on my feet, man,—­do you suppose I want ’em to grow any bigger?”]

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EDUCATION FOR DETECTIVES.

Although our Metropolitan Detectives have hitherto failed to solve the mystery in which certain atrocious murders remain shrouded, yet it would be simply captious to impeach them, on that account, for lack of sagacity, zeal, courage, or any of the numerous other qualities that go to the making up of an efficient “Hawkshaw.”

That they are not deficient in zeal, at least, is manifest from a circumstance which took place a short time since.  Counterfeiting had been carried on to a great extent in the city.  The rashness of counterfeiters is proverbial, and they usually carry on their operations immediately under the nasal protuberance of the law.  Nevertheless, in the case under notice, some vigilant detective, with a nose as sharp as that of a Spitz-dog, obtained a clue to the arrangements of the counterfeiters.  Having informed some of his associates, a concerted descent was made by the party upon a house in one of the lower streets of the city.  A portion of the house is, and has been for years past, occupied by several artists connected with the illustrated press.  Few gentlemen are better known in large circles than these artists, none more highly appreciated by hosts of friends.  But duty is duty—­often stern, but never to be shirked; and so the faithful detectives inserted their Spitz-dog noses between the joints of the artists’ doors, and, having smelt a very large rat, suddenly burst in upon these graphic malefactors, and caught them in the act, with all the tools and paraphernalia of their nefarious occupation scattered about their vile den.

Most of them were engaged in executing drawings upon blocks of wood, although it is probable that some of them were smoking pipes—­tobacco being vastly conducive to that concentration of thought by which alone great mental efforts can be followed by equivalent results.  Short work was made by the sagacious detectives, when they saw the graphic malefactors engaged in their diabolical toil.  Some of the officers seized the implements of the gang, while others collared the delinquents, and marched them through the streets to the nearest police station, where they were thrust into a dungeon and locked up for the night.

Next morning, on being taken before a magistrate, the prisoners were discharged, on the grounds that the affair was a mistake—­or a joke—­we are not exactly informed which; but the parties chiefly interested do not look upon it as a joke.