aid Philip, who did not
know that this statement of Congreve's was only a flimsy pretense to
enable him to appropriate a larger share of the plunder, as it may
fairly be called.

"I'll promise you fifty dollars, whatever the bonds bring," said
Congreve.

"Thank you."

"Now, I must get ready, for the next train leaves for the city in half
an hour."

"I'll go along with you to the depot," said Philip.

"No, you'd better not. After the loss is discovered, it might excite
some remark, and possibly suspicion, if it were remembered."

"Then I'll be going. I've got an errand over at the store. Shall I see
you to-night?"

"You'd better not come around till to-morrow morning. It may help avert
suspicion."

"Just as you say."

"A pretty good haul!" said Congreve to himself. "I didn't think the
little fool would have spunk enough to do it, but he has. I may pay him
that fifty dollars, and then again I may not. I don't think I shall care
to come back again to this dull hole to-night. I shall have to leave my
trunk, but it isn't worth the sum I owe the landlord, and he is welcome
to it. With the price of these bonds I can start anew cheaper."

Philip left his friend, without the least suspicion that he intended to
play him false. He felt very comfortable. He had got the bonds out of
his possession, so that there was no danger of their being found on him,
and he was to receive, the next morning, fifty dollars, a larger sum
than he had ever possessed at one time in his life. He made up his mind
that he would put it away in his trunk, and use it from time to time as
he had occasion for it.

He went to the grocery store, and left his mother's order. Then he took
an aimless walk, for Congreve was away, and there was no one else he
cared to be with.

So he turned to go home. He rather dreaded to enter the house, lest his
father might have discovered his loss. In the yard he saw Tom Calder.
Tom, remembering what he had seen the evening before, looked at Philip
with a significant grin, but said nothing.

"What are you grinning at?" demanded Philip,

"Nothing. I feel gay and festive, that is all," responded the stable
boy.

"Where's my father?"

"He went out to ride in the buggy."

Philip felt relieved. Evidently the loss had not been discovered yet. He
was glad to have it put off.

"Is there any news?" asked Tom, with another grin.

"News? Why should there be any?"

"I don't know. I thought you might know of som