Part 30 (1/2)

”It seems to me the joke was on you that time, Obed”

”I've sur quietly ”But I'o off to sleep, nugget or no nugget”

”All right! Good-night, Obed”

”Good-night, boys”

CHAPTER XXV

THE MIDNIGHT ROBBERY

The thief had little difficulty in entering the cabin No one in thethe s In many cases the doors were left ajar; in some cases there were none It was not necessary, therefore, to become a housebreaker

Entrance then was the least difficulty

The tramp, however, was not quite easy in his lanced with apprehension at the reclining figure of the tall gaunt Yankee, as thin but wiry, and possessed of th

”If he should tackle ht visitor with a shudder, ”it would be all up with me He could shake the life out of me”

But the stake was a valuable one--it would in all probability make him comfortable for life, if judiciously husbanded--and Obed's slumber seemed so profound that there appeared to be no risk Nevertheless the traot in through the open , and et, or what he supposed to be such He had one eye on Obed as he reached for the bundle It ith difficulty that he could lift it, so heavy was it, but this only encouraged him, and made his eyes sparkle covetously The heavier it was, the more valuable itto carry it ten ht entail No thought of the rightful owners or of their disappointain which hardens the heart and banishes all scruples, held firm dominion over him

He lifted the bundle, and as noiselessly as he entered he ht he was unobserved, but he was mistaken

Harry Vane was usually a heavy sleeper He had slept through many a thunder-storm at home, and under ordinary circuht But the thought of the nugget, even in his sleeping hours, weighed upon hiularly, he was drea stolen, and in the intensity of his excitement all at once he becah theWith a startled look he glanced toward the place where the false nugget had been placed

It was gone!

Evidently the thief had been taken in, and the thought ahed aloud The sound fell on the ears of the receding thief, and filled his heart with apprehension, though he fancied it was a sound e

Once out of thehe did not stand upon the order of his going, but fled with a speed reht of the bundle he carried

Harry rose froh he felt sure the thief had been deceived, he still, in order to old With a thrill of joy he found it still there Then he could give way to his sense of a and loud He did not, however, arouse Jack and Obed, who, like himself, were sound sleepers He didn't like, however, to have all the amusement to himself, so he shook the Yankee till he awoke

”What's the matter?” asked Obed, in a drowsy tone

”We've been robbed,” answered Harry

”What!” exclai frohly awake ”What is that you say?”