ow," said Clinton, "what I propose is this: that we just walk into
your boss's store this night, and walk out of it with goods enough to
make us rich men. We can do it easy as guns."

Arthur turned pale and remained silent.

"What's the matter, boy," said Clinton, laughing, "you ain't going to
play chickenheart, are you?"

"No," said Arthur, ashamed to confess his dislike to the plan, "but why
can't you take some other store?"

"Because we havn't the men drugged in any other store, and, in case of
detection, we're safer there than any where else."

"How so? I should think the chances in that case would be equal
anywhere?"

"Oh, no. I'm somewhat related to the proprietor of your store, and when
he found 'twas me, he'd hush the matter up--and let it go," said
Clinton, quietly.

"Related to Mr. Delancey! Pray, how nearly?" asked Arthur in
astonishment.

"Oh, quite near. But no matter about that now, maybe you'll find it all
out one of these days. Another reason for choosing that particular store
is, we can get in with less trouble. Look there."

Clinton, as he spoke, flung down upon the table a heavy brass key,
which, to his amazement, Arthur saw was the one he had lost on his
Carrollton ride.

"How in the world came you by this?"

Clinton laughed--"If you lost it, I must have found it; but no time is
to be lost, and if we're all agreed let's go to work."

"All agreed," said Quirk; but Arthur was silent; sitting with his head
bent down, as if closely examining the key, but in fact to hide the
emotion he knew was visible in his face.

"Well, then," said Clinton, rising and unlocking an armoire which stood
in one corner of the room, "here are some bags for us, which I have had
prepared expressly. Each of us will take two; and with what else we can
carry about our persons, they will be enough. Here, Pratt, are yours.
What the devil ails you, man, to look so down?"

"Nothing ails me," replied Arthur, rising and taking the bags, with an
effort to look interested and cheerful.

"Well," continued Clinton, "now, my plan is this: all you have got to do
is to unlock the door and go in; for Quirk tells me that early this
morning he managed to fill the bolt socket in the floor, so that the
bolts wouldn't sink; and that he is certain Jeff was too fuddled with
the wine he gave him to note the difference. If this was so, you can go
in without the slightest difficulty, and as you two know all about the
store, which I d