stopped and looked at it in
astonishment. A hole had been cut in it over the lock, and the door was
ajar. Sam thought he must be dreaming. He looked around him to make sure
that no one was observing his movements, and then placed his hand
against the door, which yielded to his touch.

"Well, now, if this yere don't beat all the world," said the governor to
himself. "Is there another Crusoe band in the village, I wonder?"

"Look here, partner," whispered a voice close at his elbow, "this is our
job. You're about a quarter of an hour too late."

Sam turned and saw a man, who was muffed up to the eyes, standing beside
him. His heart fairly came up into his mouth. He was as frightened as a
boy could be, and he would have yelled and taken to his heels, but he
seemed to have lost all control over himself. He stood like one
petrified. To save his life he could not utter a sound, neither could he
move hand or foot. He was caught, he could see that plainly; and now
would come the punishment.

"How do you happen to know any thing about it?" whispered the man.

"About what?" Sam almost gasped, recovering the use of his tongue after
a desperate effort.

"About the money," was the reply. "We followed him all the way from
Boston."

"Follered who?"

"Why, Mr. Henry; the brother of the man who owns this store. He had five
thousand dollars with him. We have done all the work, but, since you are
here, I suppose we must divide with you."

"Divide what?" asked the governor, utterly unable to understand what the
man was trying to get at, and astonished that he did not put a pair of
hand-cuffs upon him at once.

"O, divide what!" repeated the burglar, impatiently. "Why, the money, of
course--the five thousand dollars. What else did you come here for?"

"Me! I come here for grub, me an' my men. We don't know nothin' about no
five thousand dollars."

At this moment the other robber came up, and the first words he spoke
indicated that he was not at all pleased to see Sam. "We always have
hard luck," said he. "This is the third time we've had to divide with
fellows who didn't help us do the work. How many are there in your
crowd?"

"Six," replied the governor. He had by this time partially recovered his
wits, and began to understand the matter. There was money in the safe,
these men had come after it, and, believing him to be a robber like
themselves, they were grumbling because they were afraid they would be
obliged to share th