il for
once."

After a short conversation with the store-keeper upon general matters,
the two men took their leave. It seemed very evident that as yet there
was no suspicion on the part of Edwards, as to the discovery of his
hiding-place, and here in fancied safety, surrounded by nature in all
its beauty, with affectionate relatives, the young burglar was enjoying
himself as heartily as though no cares were oppressing him, and no
thought of detection ever troubled his mind.

The uncle of young Edwards, it was learned, was a general favorite about
the country. A good-natured, honest old farmer, who had lived there from
boyhood, and was known to all the farmers and their families for miles
around. Even in his old age, for he was long past sixty now, he
cherished his old love for gunning and fishing, and held his own right
manfully among those who were many years his junior.

It was decided, as a matter of precaution, that they should call at the
house of Uncle Ben, in order to ascertain whether he and his nephew had
really gone fishing, and to that end the constable harnessed up his
horses, and in a few minutes they were on their way to the old
farm-house, which stood at the end of a long shady lane leading off from
the main road.

[Illustration: The Robbery of the Geneva Bank.]

Driving up to the gate, the constable alighted and approached the house,
while Robert remained seated in the buggy. In a few moments he returned,
and stated that Mrs. Ratcliffe, the good farmer's wife, had informed him
that her husband and nephew had gone off before daylight to a lake about
five miles distant, and they would not return until late in the evening.

It was deemed advisable not to attempt to follow them, as their
appearance at the lake might give the young man alarm, and as they were
not sure of any particular place to find them, they concluded to quietly
await their return. They accordingly drove back to the village, and
Robert returned to the constable's house to dinner. In the afternoon the
two operatives whom I had sent from Chicago arrived, having been driven
over by private conveyance. Without publicly acknowledging them, Robert
gave them to understand that he would meet them at the house of the
constable, and upon repairing thither they were duly informed of what
had taken place, and instructed as to the plans proposed for that
evening.

Nothing of any note transpired during the afternoon, and after sundown
the party