o would be heart-broken, that I would not go into the parlor
to examine. But guilt was written large on his face, or I am a poor
judge of boy nature. Perhaps I am, after the mistake I made about my
own nephew."

Fred soon found a spot where both of them could hide, and yet be very
close to the big tree; indeed, a few steps would carry them alongside
when the time came for action.

Then they settled down to wait. After a time the sound of bells told
that noon had come. A few minutes later, and Fred touched the arm of
his companion.

"That's Gabe coming now," he remarked.

And the trembling old maid could distinctly hear a very boisterous
whistle that kept getting louder and louder as the butcher's boy strode
jauntily along the path, heading in their direction.

CHAPTER XXII

TELLING THE GOOD NEWS

Gabe Larkins' big whistle suddenly stopped. The boy was looking
craftily around him, up and down the winding path, as though anxious to
make sure that no person was in sight.

Convinced of this act, he quickly stepped over to the big oak, and
thrust his arm into the hollow. Miss Muster fairly held her breath with
excitement as she saw him take out the little cardboard box, and
opening it, drop something in, which he had drawn from the depths of a
pocket.

Fred arose; and the lady, taking this as a signal, did likewise.
Together they began to advance upon the crouching Gabe. The boy seemed
to be so intent upon his business of admiring the gems that he was
unaware of the presence of others, until possibly the rustle of the
lady's dress startled him.

Then Gabe looked up, and his face turned ashy pale when he saw Miss
Muster. In that one terrible moment he knew that his thievery had been
found out. Nobody could ever know the thoughts that flashed through the
boy's mind with the rapidity of lightning.

"Give that to me!" said Miss Muster, holding out her hand toward Gabe.

He dared not refuse; and as she received the little cardboard box the
old maid, glancing in, counted ten of her opals there, just half of the
entire collection. Gabe had increased his "take" that morning, and
added three to his plunder. His apparent success was making him daily
bolder.

He tried to face the indignant, yet sorrowful, lady, but his eyes
quickly fell before her look.

"Have you ever stopped to think where you are going to land, if you
keep on this way, Gabe?" she asked slowly.

The boy made no reply. Perhaps he was incli