or months.

He continued his search, but failed to discover any more money. He felt
indignant. That a miser should have but a paltry ten dollars in his trunk
was very discreditable.

"He must have some more somewhere," Burns reflected.

It occurred to him that there might be hoards hidden under the floor, or
in the immediate neighborhood of the cabin. But it was night, and there
would be no profit in pursuing the search now.

"To-morrow," he reflected, "the boy will be off, making preparations for
buryin' the old man, and then I can make another visit."

He closed the lid of the trunk, and with a general glance to see if there
was anything more worth taking he rose to his feet and prepared to leave
the room.

Just at this moment Ernest, who was probably dreaming of the old man,
spoke in his sleep.

"Uncle Peter," he murmured.

The tramp stood still, apprehensive that Ernest would open his eyes and
detect his presence. But the boy did not speak again.

"I had better get," muttered Burns.

He got out of the window quietly, but as the boy stirred again he hurried
away without stopping to shut it.

When, a little after seven o'clock, Ernest woke up, the sun was streaming
in at the open window, and the cool air entered with it.

"How came the window up?" thought Ernest, wondering. "I am sure I didn't
leave it open last night."

There was nothing else to indicate that the cabin had been entered. But
the more Ernest thought it over the more convinced he was that there had
been a visitor.

What could have been his motive?

With sudden suspicion he went to the trunk and opened it. It was evident
that things had been disturbed. His eyes sought the box that contained the
gold pieces. He opened it, and found that he had been robbed.

"Who could have done it?" he asked himself.

He could not think of anyone. He was acquainted with everyone in the
village, and he knew none that would be capable of theft. He never thought
of the ill-looking tramp he had met in Joe Marks's store.

Ten dollars was a considerable loss to him, for he had estimated that it
would defray the expenses of old Peter's interment. It was not so bad as
it might have been, for the hundred dollars of which Peter had told him
were still safe.

"When I get that I must be careful," he said to himself.

Though his rest had been disturbed, he felt ready to get up. There was
work for him to do. He must arrange for the burial of the old man with
w