e money into his handkerchief, he tied the four
corners of it with a piece of twine that he carried in his pocket, and,
lifting the iron register from its bed, hung the little bundle in the
hole.

It was the work of but an instant to make the twine fast so that money
and all would not roll down the tin pipe. There was little chance that
the hiding-place would be discovered.

"I say! Are you going to let me in, or shall I break down the door?"
demanded the man on the outside again.

Clyde did not know what to say, and so he said nothing. This perhaps
proved to be the wisest plan, for, after another vigorous thump at the
door, Uncle Ellis suddenly changed his policy. He no longer demanded
admittance; he asked it.

"See here, you boys," he said, and his voice sunk from its high and
angry tones to a softer and lower key. "See here, you boys; I don't want
to hurt you. This is a mistake. I can come in there in about one minute
if I want to; and if I do have to break this door down, some one will
have to suffer for it. But if you will open it peacefully I will promise
not to touch you. I didn't intend to do that, anyway."

Clyde looked at Ray, who was still mystified by the proceedings, and as
yet unable to comprehend why his uncle had so suddenly collapsed.

"I think we shall have to do it, won't we?" he asked.

Ray nodded his acquiescence.

Clyde advanced cautiously to the door, and turned the key gingerly, as
if he still doubted his uncle's promise. Then he retreated quickly to
the table and sat down in a chair. Mr. Ellis opened the door and walked
in quietly. His face was still very pale, and Clyde noticed that his
fingers twitched nervously. It was evident that he was having a hard
time to control his feelings.

"I did not expect this treatment when I came up here this evening," he
began. "I came up merely to see you, and to find out how you were
getting along. I thought perhaps I had been neglecting you boys of
late."

Clyde looked at his brother in astonishment, and Ray returned his glance
with something like a smile playing around his lips. Such talk from
Uncle Ellis was unheard of.

The younger brother did not pretend to account for it, but Clyde quickly
got an idea. Lycurgus Sharp, the lawyer, had advised Mr. Ellis to treat
the boys kindly, in order to get their forgiveness, should the guardian
prove to be short in his accounts. Could it be possible that the harsh
uncle had determined to adopt this plan