I imagine that there's a passage which connects with the open
air. Some day, perhaps, an over-earnest policeman will drop on our
heads. Then there'll be a picnic, eh?"

"What I want, just at present," said Jake, "is a drink."

"That's another of my troubles," replied the goldsmith. "I have to fetch
my water from outside, but it's lovely water when you've got it."

He placed his bag of gold in a corner. "Don't put all your eggs into one
basket," he said. "I believe in Jacob's plan--divide your belongings. If
I'm caught here, I have the plant in town. If I'm caught in town, I have
the plant here. Anyhow, the police can't get everything."

"An' where do I come in?" The eyes of the rabbit-faced youth peered into
his master's.

"I don't precisely know. I don't think you come in at all."

"Then what about that gold in the safe, boss?"

"The key is here." Benjamin slapped his pocket gently. "But, if you're a
good boy you shall have my business, and be the boss goldsmith of Timber
Town."

"Honest injin?"

"Perfectly honest. If I get away with my gold, all I leave behind is
yours."

"Shake hands on it."

"Certainly," said the goldsmith, and he held out his hand.

Jake took it in his.

"It's a bargain," he said.

"That's right; a bargain."

"I'll help you to get away with your gold, and you'll leave me your
business, lock, stock, and barrel."

"That's exactly it," said the goldsmith, taking up an empty "billy" from
the ground. "Now we'll go and get the water for our tea."

CHAPTER XXV.

Fishing.

A case of bottling-plums, the bloom still on their purple cheeks, stood
on the kitchen table. Beside it stood Rose, her arms bare to the elbows,
and a snowy apron flowing from breast to ankle. Marshalled in regular
array in front of the case, stood a small army of glass jars, which
presently were to receive the fruit.

In a huge preserving-pan a thick syrup was simmering on the stove; and
Rose had just begun to place the fruit in this saccharine mixture, when
a succession of knocks, gentle but persistent, was heard coming from the
front door.

"Oh, bother," said Rose, as she paused with a double handful of plums
half way between the fruit-case and the stove. "Who can that be?"

Again the knocking resounded through the house.

"I suppose I must go," said Rose, placing the fruit carefully in the
pan, and then, slipping off her flowing apron, she went hurriedly to the
front door.

There stood the pre