rd room from No. 17 which Mr. Wheeler occupied.

As a general thing the occupants of the Miners' Rest went to bed early.
Mining is a fatiguing business, and those who follow it have little
difficulty in dropping off to sleep. The only persons who were not
engaged in this business were Louis Wheeler and Rodney Ropes. As a rule
the hotel was closed at half past ten and before this all were in bed
and sleeping soundly.

When Wheeler went to bed he said to himself, "This will probably be my
last night in this tavern. I will go from here to Helena, and if things
turn out right I may be able to make my stay there profitable. I shan't
dare to stay here long after relieving Pettigrew of his bag of gold."

Unlike Jefferson Pettigrew, Wheeler was a light sleeper. He had done
nothing to induce fatigue, and had no difficulty in keeping awake till
half past eleven. Then lighting a candle, he examined his watch, and
ascertained the time.

"It will be safe enough now," he said to himself.

He rose from his bed, and drew on his trousers. Then in his stocking
feet he walked along the corridor till he stood in front of Jefferson
Pettigrew's door. He was in doubt as to whether he would not be obliged
to pick the lock, but on trying the door he found that it was not
fastened. He opened it and stood within the chamber.

Cautiously he glanced at the bed. Mr. Pettigrew appeared to be sleeping
soundly.

"It's all right," thought Louis Wheeler. "Now where is the bag of gold?"

It was not in open view, but a little search showed that the owner had
put it under the bed.

"He isn't very sharp," thought Wheeler. "He is playing right into my
hands. Door unlocked, and bag of gold under the bed. He certainly is a
very unsuspicious man. However, that is all the better for me. Really
there isn't much credit in stealing where all is made easy for you."

There seemed to be nothing to do but to take the gold from its place of
deposit and carry it back to his own room. While there were a good many
lodgers in the hotel, there seemed to be little risk about this, as
every one was asleep.

Of course should the bag be found in his room that would betray him,
but Mr. Wheeler proposed to empty the gold coins into his gripsack, and
throw the bag out of the window into the back yard.

"Well, here goes!" said Wheeler cheerfully, as he lifted the bag, and
prepared to leave the chamber. But at this critical moment an unexpected
sound struck terror into h