. "Seems to me
I've got the best of it so far."

"Perhaps you have; but I wouldn't exchange with you for all that. Now
I've got a proposition to make."

"That's what you said before."

"If you will restore the tin box, and let me go free, I'll see that you
are not arrested for what you've done."

"You're very kind," said Martin; "but that won't pay me for my trouble."

"If I'll get you out of your present danger?"

"I don't know about that. S'posin' I was to do as you say, the first
thing you'd do after you got out would be to set the copps on me."

"No, I wouldn't. I'd go to prison first myself."

This proposition had some effect upon Martin. He realized that he was in
danger, and felt that he had been very poorly paid for his risk and
trouble. He was inclined to believe Rufus would keep his word, but he
knew also that matters had gone too far. Smith, he was sure, would not
consent to any such arrangement, and without him he could do nothing.
Besides, it was a satisfaction to him to feel that he had Rufus in his
power, and he had no desire to lose that advantage by setting him free.
Tyrant and bully as he was by nature, he meant to gratify his malice at
our hero's expense.

"I couldn't do it, Rufus," he said. "There's another man in it, and he's
got the box."

Rufus looked sharply at Martin to ascertain if he was speaking the
truth. He decided that it was as his step-father stated, and, if this
was the case, he would have more than one enemy to deal with.

"Does the other man live here?" he asked.

"Maybe he does, and maybe he doesn't."

"Who is he?"

"Maybe it's the Emperor of Chiny, and maybe it isn't. What would you
give to know?"

"Not much," said Rufus, assuming an indifferent tone. "You're the man
that took the box,--that's enough for me."

"He put me up to it," said Martin, unguardedly.

"I thought Martin wasn't smart enough to plan the robbery himself," said
Rufus to himself. He resolved to appear indifferent to this information,
in the hope of learning more.

"You can settle that among yourselves," he said, quietly. "If you
consented to do it, you're as much to blame as he."

At this moment Smith, influenced by curiosity, opened the door and
entered.

"This is my undootiful son, Mr. Smith," said Martin.

"So his name's Smith," thought Rufus. "I wonder whether it's his real
name, or a false one."

"I'm glad to see you, young man," said Smith. "So you've called to see
your father?"