tume of his predecessor. Ernest stared at him for a moment,
then burst into a loud laugh.

"Why does thee laugh?" asked Luke mildly.

This sent Ernest into a second convulsion.

"Do I look like a man of peace?" asked Luke.

"Yes; shall you live up to the character?"

"Until I see the Fox brothers. Then the lamb will become a lion."

CHAPTER IX.

AN ARMED ESCORT.

Luke Robbins entered at once upon his duties as janitor of the
Emmonsville bank. It was rather difficult, however, to supply him with
employment enough to account for his being in constant attendance.

He was provided with a broom, and in the morning swept the bank.
Sometimes he washed the windows; at other times he sat on a bench in
the rear of the bank, ready for any call upon his services. So far as
garb went, he resembled a Quaker, but his brown face and sharp eyes
hardly harmonized with his assumed character. Still less did the
revolver which he carried in an inside pocket.

Several days passed, and though Luke kept a sharp lookout for the Fox
brothers, he did not catch a glimpse of anyone who suggested or
resembled them.

Then one morning Luke went to the bank as usual and put on his Quaker
garb.

About eleven o'clock an elderly man appeared and presented a check for
five hundred dollars. The money was paid him, and then he lingered a
moment, ill at ease.

"I don't like to have so much money about me," he said, in a tone that
betrayed anxiety.

"No doubt you will find plenty who would be willing to relieve you of
it," rejoined the paying teller, with a smile.

"That's what I am afraid of. They do say that the Fox brothers have
been seen not far away."

"Is it absolutely necessary that you should have the money in your
possession? You could leave it in the bank, or most of it."

"I shall want to use some of it to-morrow, and I live ten miles
away--in Claremont."

"How are you going back?"

"I have a buggy outside."

"The road to Claremont is rather lonely, I believe."

"Yes."

"Why don't you get some one to go with you?"

"I don't know any one I could get."

"I can find you a companion, but he would want to be paid."

"I'll pay him if he'll see me through all right."

"I have the very man for you. Here, Luke!"

Luke Robbins heard the call and approached.

"The farmer looked at him doubtfully.

"A Quaker?" he said, in a disappointed tone.

"He is no more a Quaker than you are. He is a detective, and very
anxio