witness present.

So he put the small cardboard box back into the cavity of the hollow
oak, just as near where he had found it as he could. Then, with a
cautious look along the trail, to make sure Gabe was not already
returning, Fred hurried away.

He was unusually quiet at lunch time, his mother and sister noticed.
They even asked him if he felt unwell; but Fred laughingly replied that
he never was better in all his life.

A little while later Fred took his way to the large house in which Miss
Muster lived. His heart beat high with satisfaction, because of the
fact that he had in so brief a time fully proved the innocence of
Bristles.

At sight of Fred it was remarkable what a sudden look of expectation
flashed over the thin face of Bristles' aunt. Apparently, then, she had
come to place considerable confidence in the boy, whose manly bearing
must have impressed her, as it did nearly everyone with whom Fred came
in contact.

"You are bringing me news, Fred!" she exclaimed, as she put out her
hand toward him. "Your smiling face tells me that, for you cannot hide
it. Oh! I hope I am not mistaken. Have you found my opals?"

"Yes, ma'am, the whole seven that you said you'd lost," he answered,
promptly.

"That is good news," the lady went on; "but tell me more; have you
learned who the thief is, Fred?"

A vein of anxiety might have been noticed now in her voice; for she
could not help fearing that after all it might prove to be her nephew.

"I saw him take a little cardboard box out of the hollow of a tree,"
Fred started to say, "look at what it held, and then stick it back.
After he went away, ma'am, I examined that same box, and found the
opals there."

"W--who was the boy?" she faltered, her hands shutting tightly as she
kept her eyes fastened on Fred.

"Gabe Larkins, ma'am!"

"Oh! the butcher's boy!" and she gave a great sigh, as of relief.

"Yes, ma'am. On the way home from the shop to get his lunch, he had to
stop and take a look at his treasures," Fred continued.

"He did not see you watching him, I suppose, Fred?"

"Oh! not a bit of it," replied the boy, smiling. "I looked out for
that."

"Have you the opals with you now, my dear boy?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," replied Fred. "You see, I thought it would be better if
you could see Gabe handling the things, and know by the evidence of
your own eyes he was the guilty one."

"That sounds very clever of you, Fred," Miss Muster remarked, with a
loo