en's place here
till our friends with whom we deal come after them. Saturday night when
all is quiet we shall bring the jewels here, where our friend will give
us as pay a share of the jewels."

Turning to the Russian he explained something that Garry had wanted to
hear since he and his chums had started on their mission; this was the
location of the lane over which the stuff was brought.

"We cross the border at a point almost on a line with Green's house
here, for then we can come down through the woods and across the fields
with little danger of being seen by anyone. Once we are here we are
safe, for Lafe here has a place to hide things that is beyond
discovery."

Although pressed to stay for a while and join a card game that was about
to start, he refused, declaring that he was tired and needed sleep, and
would return to the place he was staying for the night, meaning, Garry
decided for himself, the restaurant and rooming house conducted by
LeBlanc's French friend.

Lafe let the Russian out and then returned to the room, rubbing his
hands together with the thought of the big reward they would get for
their help in the smuggling of the jewels across the border.

As he returned, one of the men asked:

"I say, Jean, what pay will we get for all this business?"

"Ah, ma fren's, we will get big pay, trust Jean to see to that. Did I
not tell you tonight I had the big plan in my head? You have not heard
the whole of that plan. Once we get those jewels across the border, we
shall simply help ourselves to the whole of them. That will be our pay,
share and share alike."

The others looked at Jean in amazement, for this thought had never
entered their heads.

"What about old Whiskers, the Russian, and his brother?" asked one.

"Pouf, what can they do? They can appeal to no one, for they are trying
to break the law and would only get prison for their pains. We have only
to laugh at them. Now let us have a little game of cards, while Lafe
goes to the cellar for some of that very excellent stuff he has in
there."

Garry thanked fortune that he had not obeyed an impulse to hasten to the
cellar and make his getaway while the Russian was being let out.

Then he was startled almost out of a year's growth at the turn that
events took at that moment.

"You fellows can play cards all you want, but go out in the kitchen.
There's a big table there," said Lafe.

That meant to Garry that his retreat was to be cut off as lo