y soon succeeded in making an impression. One opening and the rest
was not so difficult.

Still they worked on, taking turns and whispering cheerily to one
another. Now and then Dame Brinker stepped noiselessly over the
threshold and listened, to be certain that her husband slept.

"What grand news it will be for him," she said, laughing, "when he is
strong enough to bear it. How I should like to put the pouch and the
stocking, just as we find them, all full of money, near him this blessed
night, for the dear man to see when he wakens."

"We must get them first, Mother," panted Hans, still tugging away at his
work.

"There's no doubt of that. They can't slip away from us now," she
answered, shivering with cold and excitement as she crouched beside the
opening. "Like enough we'll find them stowed in the old earthen pot I
lost long ago."

By this time Hans, too, began to tremble, but not with cold. He had
penetrated a foot deep for quite a space on the south side of the tree.
At any moment they might come upon the treasure. Meantime the stars
winked and blinked at each other as if to say, "Queer country, this
Holland! How much we do see, to be sure!"

"Strange that the dear father should have put it down so woeful deep,"
said Dame Brinker in rather a provoked tone. "Ah, the ground was soft
enough then, I warrant. How wise of him to mistrust Jan Kamphuisen, and
Jan in full credit at the time. Little I thought that handsome fellow
with his gay ways would ever go to jail! Now, Hans, let me take a turn.
It's lighter work, d'ye see, the deeper we go? I'd be loath to kill the
tree, Hans. Will we harm it, do you think?"

"I cannot say," he answered gravely.

Hour after hour, mother and son worked on. The hole grew larger and
deeper. Clouds began to gather in the sky, throwing elfish shadows as
they passed. Not until moon and stars faded away and streaks of daylight
began to appear did Meitje Brinker and Hans look hopelessly into each
other's faces.

They had searched the ground thoroughly, desperately, all round the
tree; south, north, east, west. THE HIDDEN MONEY WAS NOT THERE!

Glimpses

Annie Bouman had a healthy distaste for Janzoon Kolp. Janzoon Kolp, in
his own rough way, adored Annie. Annie declared that she could not "to
save her life" say one civil word to that odious boy. Janzoon believed
her to be the sweetest, sauciest creature in the world. Annie laughed
among her playmates at the comical fla