me last night. A watchman at the collar factory says he seen an
automobile stop around the corner near the Baptist Church about three
o'clock. Says it didn't have no lights on it. He didn't think much about
it, though, he says, and the next time he came round front he looked
again and it was gone. The papers had it last week where there was a job
just like that done over to Maynard. Two ginks in an automobile came
along one night and lifted six or eight hundred dollars' worth of stuff
out of a gent's furnishing shop. If they don't raise my pay at the Yards
pretty quick I'm going to hire me an automobile, fellows."

This aroused laughter, and an excited discussion of the burglary
followed, during which Mr. Cannister quite forgot his orders on the
stove and was only recalled to them by an odour of scorching eggs. Two
of the customers, having finished breakfast, made known their intention
of visiting the scene of the crime, and went out. At the first table
inside the door two boys were regarding each other with round and
inquiring eyes.

"Do you suppose--" began Clint. But Amy hissed him to silence.

"Wait till we hear more," he cautioned.

But, although they listened with all ears, little more information was
forthcoming, save that one Carey, Chief of the local police, was already
busy. "He's telephoned all around," said Mike, "and told them to look
out for the automobile. But, say, what chance has he got, eh? You can't
stop every automobile that goes through and search it for jewelry!"

"What sort of jewelry did they get, Mike?" asked the proprietor.

"Rings and pins and things like that." He chuckled. "It seems that
whoever closed up last night left the box they keep their diamonds and
stones that ain't set in out of the safe. They found it back of the
counter this morning. The robbers hadn't ever seen it. I guess they'd be
good and mad if they knew!"

"Come on," whispered Amy. They settled their checks and left the
restaurant, trying to disguise their eagerness. After the door had
closed behind them the man whom they had asked about the Brimfield
trains inquired: "Who are those boys, Can?"

"Don't know. They walked in here about six-thirty and wanted some
breakfast. Said they was nigh starved. Looked it, too. And mighty tired.
Nice-appearing young fellows. Off on a lark, maybe, trampin'
around country."

"Thought they were strangers here. Got any more coffee, Can?"

* * * * *