you didn't have a favorable opinion of me."

"I can't make out much of that fellow, Rodney," said Jefferson. "I can't
understand his object in coming here."

"He says he wants to buy a mine."

"That's all a pretext. He hasn't money enough to buy a mine or a tenth
part of it."

"He seems to have money."

"Yes; he may have a few hundred dollars, but mark my words, he hasn't
the slightest intention of buying a mine."

"He has some object in view."

"No doubt! What it is is what I want to find out."

There was another way in which Louis Wheeler made himself popular among
the miners of Oreville. He had a violin with him, and in the evening he
seated himself on the veranda and played popular tunes.

He had only a smattering in the way of musical training, but the airs he
played took better than classical music would have done. Even Jefferson
Pettigrew enjoyed listening to "Home, Sweet Home" and "The Last Rose of
Summer," while the miners were captivated by merry dance tunes, which
served to enliven them after a long day's work at the mines.

One day there was a sensation. A man named John O'Donnell came down
stairs from his room looking pale and agitated.

"Boys," he said, "I have been robbed."

Instantly all eyes were turned upon him.

"Of what have you been robbed, O'Donnell?" asked Jefferson.

"Of two hundred dollars in gold. I was going to send it home to my wife
in Connecticut next week."

"When did you miss it?"

"Just now."

"Where did you keep it?"

"In a box under my bed."

"When do you think it was taken?"

"Last night."

"What makes you think so?"

"I am a sound sleeper, and last night you know was very dark. I awoke
with a start, and seemed to hear footsteps. I looked towards the door,
and saw a form gliding from the room."

"Why didn't you jump out of bed and seize the intruder whoever he was?"

"Because I was not sure but it was all a dream. I think now it was some
thief who had just robbed me."

"I think so too. Could you make out anything of his appearance?"

"I could only see the outlines of his figure. He was a tall man. He must
have taken the money from under my bed."

"Did any one know that you had money concealed there?"

"I don't think I ever mentioned it."

"It seems we have a thief among us," said Jefferson, and almost
unconsciously his glance rested on Louis Wheeler who was seated near
John O'Donnell, "what do you think, Mr. Wheeler?"

"I think you are right, Mr