Part 24 (2/2)
”You may tell him it is in a safe in the front room on the second floor. But how did he expect you would find out?”
”He left that to me.”
”And what will you tell him?”
”I dunno. I'll think of something.”
”He won't suspect you, will he?”
”I guess not.”
”Suppose he did?”
”He'd kill me,” said Julius.
”What a dreadful man he must be!” exclaimed Mrs. Hoffman, shuddering.
”How do you dare to live with him?”
”I shan't live with him much longer,” said Julius. ”He said to-night he'd go to Californy if he got swag enough here.”
”What is swag?” asked Mrs. Hoffman, bewildered.
”He means money, or articles of value,” explained Paul. ”I don't think he'll go to California, Julius. I think he'll go somewhere else.”
”I guess I'll go,” said Julius, moving toward the door.
”You need not be in a hurry. We should like to have you stay longer.”
”He'll expect me,” said Julius.
”Go, then, if you think it best. But it is a long distance downtown, and you must be tired. Here is money to pay your fare in the cars.”
”Thank yer,” said Julius.
He accepted the money, and went out, first, however, promising to call upon Paul the next day at his stand and let him know whether there was any change in Jack Morgan's plans.
”I pity the poor boy,” said Mrs. Hoffman, after he went out. ”What a dreadful thing it is to live with such a desperate man!”
”I will see what I can do to help him next week,” said Paul. ”We shall owe him something for letting us know of the robbery.”
”I shudder to think what might have happened if we had been taken by surprise. We might have been murdered in our beds.”
Jimmy looked so frightened at this suggestion that Paul laughed.
”It is no laughing matter, mother,” he said; ”but Jimmy looked so thoroughly scared that I couldn't help being amused. Don't be alarmed, Jimmy. We'll take good care of you.”
Meanwhile Julius was returning to the miserable room which he called home. He was thinking how he could communicate the information agreed upon without arousing the suspicions of the two confederates. Finally he decided upon a story which seemed to him satisfactory.
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