lty, because--because we're fond
of him'--here the little widow wiped her eyes, and her voice trembled--'
an' know him better than others, but the case was black against him.
Frank came straight up from below and into the searcher's shed, an' Shine
found the gold in his crib bag, which was rolled up, an' forced under the
handle of his billy.'

'Where it'd been for half the shift, the billy hanging in a dark drive
where any man below might 'a 'got at it.'

'They found gold in a little box-place made in the heel of one of his
workin' boots.'

'A boot that was always left in the boiler-house when he was off work.

'He had sold coarse water-worn gold to a Jew at Yarraman.'

'Yes, I know, I know. Got, he said, fossicking down the creek where
nobody had ever won anything but fine gold before. Whoever put that gold
in his crib bag an' faked his boot-heel salted Frank's puddling-tub. It
was easy done. He on'y worked there now'n again when on night or
afternoon shift, an' it was open to anyone. It was salted with Silver
Stream gold by some double-damned cunning scoundrel.'

'We know it, Harry, and we have to prove it. To do that we must have all
our wits about us.'

'Yes, mother, we must; but if that man ever is found I hope I may have
the handling of him. Dick!' said the young man, turning suddenly.

Dick came forward somewhat diffidently, like a detected criminal.

'You know all about this business, eh?'

The boy nodded his head solemnly.

'Who do you think worked that dirty trick on my brother?' asked Harry
gravely.

Dick had not thought of the matter in that light, but he answered,
without hesitation:

'Ole Tinribs, I expect.'

'Dickie!' cried Mrs. Haddon, reprovingly.

'Why, why, Dick?' queried the young man.

Oh, I dunno; on'y he seems that sort, don't he?' Dick had been subjected
to a grave indignity at the hands of the superintendent, and was not in a
frame of mind to form a just estimate of the character of that good man.
He spoke with the cheerful irresponsibility of youth.

'I'm afraid you won't be much good to us, Copper-top, old man, if you
rush at conclusions in that desperate way,' said Harry.

Mrs. Hardy shook an impressive forefinger at the boy.

'You will say nothing to anybody of our intentions, Richard.'

'No,' said Dick simply; but that word given to Mrs. Hardy was a sacred
oath, steel-bound and clamped.

CHAPTER VI.

THE school-ground next morning at nine o'clock showed little