one here except you," and again the father had
suspicion of his son.

"I hope you don't think I'd do such a thing as that?" said Philip,
virtuously. "But I am afraid it is my fault, for I left the outside door
unlocked all night. Any one might have come in and stolen the bonds."

"That is true; but why didn't they take more, or all? You didn't see any
one round when you went to bed, did you?"

"Yes, I did," answered Philip, with well-feigned eagerness. "Just as I
was going to bed, I went into the next room, where the trunk is, and,
turning to look out of the window, I was quite startled to see Harry
Gilbert's face close to the window. The light shining through the
doorway was quite strong enough for him to see the trunk and keys lying
on your desk. It's as sure as can be that he took the bonds. You see, he
could slip in after I went upstairs, and there was nothing to prevent.
He might have been lurking around when you were examining the bonds last
night, and saw you place them back in the envelope."

"What is all this about?" asked Mrs. Ross, entering the room at this
point.

It was explained to her, and she instantly adopted her son's view.

"Phil's hit the nail on the head, I do believe," she said. "I didn't
think he was so sharp. Colonel Ross, I have no doubt the Gilbert boy
took the bonds."

"Then, why didn't he take more?" asked Ross.

"Oh, he got frightened--thought he heard a noise, or perhaps he thought
it would not be discovered so quick if he only took two. There are
reasons enough."

Philip and Mrs. Ross assumed so confident a tone that Colonel Ross,
though at first inclined to discredit the charge, ended by believing it
very probable.

"This thing must be attended to," he said. "What are you going to do
about it, pa?"

"I shall go before Justice Slocum, and get a warrant to search Widow
Gilbert's house. If I find anything, I shall have Harry arrested."

"Now, you're in a scrape, Harry Gilbert," said Philip to himself,
exultantly.

"I guess I'll go along with you, pa," he said, aloud, "and see if James
Congreve has got back from the city."

CHAPTER XXXVI

HARRY IS CHARGED WITH THEFT

Philip called at the hotel, and inquired, with considerable confidence,
if "Mr. Congreve" was in.

"He has not returned," answered the landlord.

"Then he won't be back to-night," said Philip, feeling considerably
disappointed.

"No; the last train is in."

"I