gether."

"I'm glad to hear it, because you're entirely too young to marry, and
your occupation is precarious."

"You needn't be so preachy. You're not more'n a hundred years old
yourself."

"But I'm two months older than you are and often two months makes a
vast difference, particularly in our cases. I notice about you, Harry,
at times, a certain juvenility which I feel it my duty to repress."

"Don't do it, George. Let's enjoy it while we can, because as you say my
occupation is precarious and yours is the same."

They stopped at the corner of the iron fence enclosing the Curtis home,
in which many lights were still shining. It was near a dark alley
opening on the street and running by this side of the house.

"I'm going to see what's behind Mr. Curtis's house," said Harry.

Dalton stared at him.

"What's got into your head, Harry!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to be a
burglar prowling about the home of the man who has entertained you?"

Harry hesitated. He was sorry that Dalton was with him. Then he could
have gone on without question, but he must make some excuse to Dalton.

"George," he said at last, "will you swear to keep a secret, a most
important one which I am pledged to tell to nobody, but which I must
confide in you in order to give a good reason for what I am about to do."

"If you are pledged to keep such a secret," replied Dalton, "then don't
explain it to me. Your word is good enough, Harry. Go ahead and do what
you want to do. I'll ask nothing about any of your actions, no matter
how strange it may look."

"You're a man in a million, George. Come on, your confidence is going to
be tested. Besides, you'll run the danger of being shot."

But Dalton followed him fearlessly as he led the way down the alley.
Richmond was not lighted then, save along the main streets, and a few
steps took them into the full dark. The brilliant windows threw bright
bands across the lines, but they themselves were in darkness.

The alley ran through the next street and so did the Curtis grounds.
They were as extensive in the rear of the house as in front, and
contained small pines carefully trimmed, banks of roses and two grape
arbors. Harry could hear no sound of any one stirring among them,
but people, obviously the cooks and other servants, were talking in the
big kitchen at the rear of the house.

The street itself running in the rear of the building was as well lighted
as it was in front, but H