-the fire wasn't hot enough to touch
them," said Tom Neefus. "I don't think---Ha!"

He stopped short, gazing into a small compartment of the safe.
Then his brow contracted.

"What have you discovered?" questioned Mr. Dodge, quickly.

"The money is gone---and also those papers to that tract of land
at Spur Road!"

"The money? How much money?"

"Three hundred and fifty dollars."

"But I thought you said you had the safe locked," went on Mr.
Dodge.

"I did have it locked. He must have opened it and then shut it
up again before he went at the desk."

The announcement by the master of the mill created something of
a sensation, and soon all the men and boys in the vicinity gathered
to learn the particulars of the robbery. It was learned that
the man who had perpetrated the deed was a tall, slim individual
who limped with his left foot when he ran. He had disappeared
into the forest bordering the river, and that was the last seen
of him. He had red hair and a stubby red moustache.

That very evening a reward of one hundred dollars was offered
by the mill company for the capture of the thief, and men and
boys for miles around went on the hunt, but without success.
Mr. Dodge and the other men of the concern were very much worried,
but could do nothing further. The county authorities appeared
to be helpless, although the sheriff and two deputies spent two
days in trying to get some trace of the criminal. It was as if
the earth had opened and swallowed him up.

The loss of the money was bad enough, but it was learned by Snap
that this was not the worst of the affair by any means. For a
long time the mill company had had a dispute with another lumber
concern over the right to cut timber in a locality known as the
Spur Road. The Barnaby Company had certain papers for this
right---getting them after much trouble. Now these papers were gone,
and the dispute about the Spur Road tract might be again opened.

"I wish I had those papers back," said Mr. Dodge. "If I had them
I shouldn't mind the loss of the money so much, although three
hundred and fifty dollars is not an amount to be sneezed at."

"Can the thief sell the papers to the Felps Lumber Company, father?"
asked Snap.

"He might do that---if they were mean enough to buy them. But
I rather think the Felps folks would be above that---although
they are very, very bitter against us. They can't get any more
timber to cut around here, and they don't wan