Chapter I: Front Matter

_Frontispiece._] [_Page 260_]

HARDING'S LUCK

_By_

E. NESBIT

Author of
"The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

WITH SIXTEEN FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
BY H. R. MILLAR

NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1910, by
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY

Copyright, 1909, by
E. NESBIT BLAND

_All rights reserved_

_September, 1910_

TO

ROSAMUND PHILIPPA PHILIPS

WITH

E. NESBIT'S LOVE

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE
I. TINKLER AND THE MOONFLOWER 1
II. BURGLARS 31
III. THE ESCAPE 58
IV. WHICH WAS THE DREAM? 82
V. "TO GET YOUR OWN LIVING" 115
VI. BURIED TREASURE 144
VII. DICKIE LEARNS MANY THINGS 178
VIII. GOING HOME 208
IX. KIDNAPPED 228
X. THE NOBLE DEED 250
XI. LORD ARDEN 275
XII. THE END 300

Illustrations

"EDRED OBEYED, AND THE MOULDIESTWARP LEANED TOWARDS HIM AND
SPOKE IN HIS EAR" _Frontispiece_

FACING
PAGE

"'GIMME,' SAID DICKIE--'GIMME A PENN'ORTH O' THAT THERE'" 6

"'IT _IS_ A MOONFLOWER, OF COURSE,' HE SAID" 12

"'HERE, HUMPHREYS, PUT THESE IN A JUG OF WATER TILL I GO
HOME'" 16

"HE LAY FACE DOWNWARD ON THE ROAD AND TURNED UP HIS BOOT" 24

"'IT ONLY PAWNS FOR A SHILLIN',' SAID DICKIE" 38

"THREE OR FOUR FACES LOOKED DOWN AT DICKIE" 70

"HE MADE, WITH TRIPLE LINES OF SILVERY SEEDS, A SIX-POINTED
STAR" 80

"''TIS THE PICTURE,' HE SAID PROUDLY, 'OF MY OLD SHIP, "THE
GOLDEN VENTURE"'" 98

"THE GALLEY WAS DECKED WITH FRESH FLOWERS" 102

"'AN' I OFF'S WITH ME COAT, AND FLOPS IT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE PUDDLE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GAL'" 134

"'OH, WHAT A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE SEEN THEE!' DICKIE CRIED" 148

"IT HURT, BUT DICKIE LIKED IT" 158

"'ELFRIDA!' SAID BOTH BOYS AT ONCE" 272

"'I HAVE KILLED A MAN,' HE SAID" 290

"'I'VE THOUGHT OF NOTHING ELSE FOR A MONTH,' SAID DICKIE" 304

HARDING'S LUCK

Harding's Luck