should have considered satisfactory for a whole day's labor.

Harry was about to say good-by to his companions, but they advised him
to ride back with them to a point on the road where he could make his
way to Waybridge without the trouble of passing through the wood,
besides having a less distance to go.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Two o'clock," answered one of the detectives, consulting his watch.

"Only two o'clock!"

Harry could scarcely believe it, so much had happened since he got up in
the morning, yet it was even so. It had taken very little time to do his
business in the city, as we know, and almost half the day still lay
before him.

Harry thought of what he had accomplished with pardonable pride and
satisfaction. He had frustrated the plans of two daring thieves, caused
the arrest of one of them, and the probable speedy arrest of the other,
arranged for the restoration to the owner of a valuable property, and
earned for himself the munificent sum of two hundred and fifty dollars.

Nothing particular happened on his homeward walk.

"Got home so soon, Harry?" asked Uncle Obed, as our hero entered the
little cottage.

"Yes, sir; and here's the money for your coupons."

"How about that other matter, Harry?"

"It came out all right. Where's mother?"

"Gone to call on one of the neighbors."

"Then I'll tell you about it; but I don't want to say a word to mother
till the whole thing is settled."

CHAPTER XXIV

PHILIP IN A TIGHT PLACE

Ralph Temple was still at his cottage, or, more properly, hut, waiting
impatiently for Vernon to reappear, that he might obtain his share of
the contents of the tin box.

He had led a lawless life, and more than once been engaged in dishonest
transactions, but never in one of such magnitude as the present. He
calculated that, even if they surrendered the box in consideration of a
reward, he would not receive less than a thousand dollars, and he was
planning how he would dispose of this sum.

This was the project which he fixed upon: For years he had been desirous
of visiting California, in the hope that chances of getting rich,
honestly or dishonestly, might be met with in a State whose very name
was suggestive of gold. With a thousand dollars he would feel justified
in going. Moreover, there would be an advantage in leaving a part of the
country where he was an object of suspicion to the authorities, and was
liab