offer me a place when you
know so little of me?"

"I trust a good deal to looks. I care more for them than for
recommendations."

At that moment Phil Stark came out of the hotel, and passing them,
stepped off the piazza into the street.

Mr. Thorndike half rose from his seat, and looked after him.

"Who is that?" he asked, in an exciting whisper.

"A man named Stark, who is boarding at the hotel. Do you know him?"

"Do I know him?" repeated Thorndike. "He is one of the most successful
burglars in the West."

CHAPTER XXIII.

PREPARING FOR THE BURGLAR.

Carl stared at Mr. Thorndike in surprise and dismay.

"A burglar!" he ejaculated.

"Yes; I was present in the courtroom when he was convicted of robbing
the Springfield bank. I sat there for three hours, and his face was
impressed upon my memory. I saw him later on in the Joliet Penitentiary.
I was visiting the institution and saw the prisoners file out into the
yard. I recognized this man instantly. Do you know how long he has been
here?"

"For two weeks I should think."

"He has some dishonest scheme in his head, I have no doubt. Have you a
bank in Milford?"

"Yes."

"He may have some design upon that."

"He is very intimate with our bookkeeper, so his nephew tells me."

Mr. Thorndike looked startled.

"Ha! I scent danger to my friend, Mr. Jennings. He ought to be
apprised."

"He shall be, sir," said Carl, firmly.

"Will you see him to-night?"

"Yes, sir; I am not only in his employ, but I live at his house."

"That is well."

"Perhaps I ought to go home at once."

"No attempt will be made to rob the office till late. It is scarcely
eight o'clock. I don't know, however, but I will walk around to the
house with you, and tell your employer what I know. By the way, what
sort of a man is the bookkeeper?"

"I don't know him very well, sir. He has a nephew in the office, who was
transferred from the factory. I have taken his place."

"Do you think the bookkeeper would join in a plot to rob his employer?"

"I don't like him. To me he is always disagreeable, but I would not like
to say that."

"How long has he been in the employ of Mr. Jennings?"

"As long as two years, I should think."

"You say that this man is intimate with him?"

"Leonard Craig--he is the nephew--says that Mr. Philip Stark is at his
uncle's house every evening."

"So he calls himself Philip Stark, does he?"

"Isn't that his name?"

"I suppose it is one o