a fortune in themselves.

"Poor girl," said the major, in a low voice. "Why did she risk murder by
keeping such a fortune about her?"

"Probably she didn't want some particular person to know that she was so
rich," suggested Ted.

Drawer after drawer revealed other valuables, such as priceless laces
and articles of gold and silver.

"We must get all this away as soon as possible, and guard it carefully,"
said the major.

"Yes, it is a great temptation, I sup----"

As Ted was speaking he chanced to look up.

Framed in the window was a face.

But as Ted met the blazing eyes in the face it vanished, and he ran into
the hall and out onto the veranda, but could see no one in the garden.

At that moment, however, he was brought back into the house with a jump
by the sudden slamming of the back door of the house and a cry of
warning from Bud, followed by shouts from the other boys. Then a shot
outside, and a crash of glass.

The house was being besieged.

He heard a rush in the garden, and turned to see several men race around
the corner of the house toward the front door.

They had almost reached it when he slammed it in their faces, putting
his shoulder to it, and calling for help.

In the lead of the besiegers he recognized the face he had seen at the
window.

As he was still holding the door against those who were striving to push
it in from without there was a shot through one of the panels, and
Strong sank to the floor insensible.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TED SAVES THE HOUSE.

But as Ted Strong fell to the floor there was a rush through the hall,
and in a moment he was surrounded by the broncho boys, who held the door
while Bud and Ben picked Ted up and laid him on a sofa.

As he was laid down Ted opened his eyes.

"Barricade that door with the furniture," he commanded. "Never mind me.
I'm all right. Defend the house first. We must not let the thieves get
Helen Mowbray's property."

While several of the fellows held their shoulders to the door, which was
bulging with the power without to force it in, Bud and Ben carried a
heavy sideboard across the room and placed it against the door.

This held it for a while until other heavy articles made it secure.

They had no more than finished their work when a shot crashed through a
pane of glass in the dining room in which Ted lay, attended by Stella,
who was trying to stanch the blood from a wound in his side.

Kit gave a muffled groan, and put hi