was up, and they could see the lamp
quite plainly, resting on a table.

"Let us crawl up and take a look into the windows," whispered Dick.
"It seems to be safe enough now. If we hear anybody coming, we can
lay down in the grass or behind a bush."

Hardly daring to breathe, they crawled from the shelter of the rocks
to the nearest outbuildings, one given over to some chickens. From
there, they advanced to a cow shed and then to one of the big barns.

"I can see into the kitchen from here," whispered Sam. "Look!"

They looked, and by the light of a big bracket lamp, made out two
men and a boy moving about the kitchen, evidently preparing the
evening meal. The door to the next room was open, and they caught a
glimpse of several men at a table eating, or waiting to be served.

"I'd like to know if Dan Baxter is in that crowd," said Dick.

They watched the scene for several minutes, but if the former bully
of Putnam Hall was present he did not show himself. Then a curtain
was drawn down, shutting off their view.

They next moved to the bedroom window, and there beheld a man lying
on a couch, smoking a pipe. He seemed to be a refined individual,
with a clean-shaven face and curly black hair.

"He doesn't look as if he belonged to this crowd," was Dick's comment.
"He looks as if he might be a thorough gentleman."

"He certainly looks like a city man," answered Sam. "Perhaps he has
come to see this Sack Todd on business."

"Perhaps."

They watched the man for several minutes and saw him get a letter
from his pocket and read it attentively. Then he closed his eyes as
if to take a nap, throwing his pipe on a chair.

"Whoever he is, he is making himself at home," observed the youngest
Rover.

"Let us move on to the next window," said his brother. "Now is our
best chance to size up the place--while most of the crowd are getting
their supper."

As silently as before, they moved along in the darkness to where the
light was streaming from the third window, not far from a corner of
the ranch. Then each of the boys raised himself up with the slowness
of an Indian on a trail.

Nobody seemed to be in the room, and, growing bolder, they drew
nearer, until they could get a good view of the interior. They saw
a table and several chairs, and also a desk and a safe. On the table
was the lamp, and beside this, several piles of new, crisp bank bills.

"My gracious! Look at the money!" gasped Sam. "Why, there must be
thousan