the bar-room, where they sat down at a
table and ordered some liquid refreshment.

"Well, Mullins," said the gambler, "I am getting impatient. The days
are slipping by, and you have done nothing."

"You know what I am waiting for. Yesterday a check for a thousand
dollars was paid in at the office, and deposited in the bank to-day."

"Good! And then?"

"I will send Felix to the bank and draw out sixteen hundred. Will that
satisfy you?"

"I see, and, according to our arrangement, Felix will hand it to me on
his way back to the office, and then swear that it was taken from him
by some unknown party. You have coached him, have you?"

"Yes. Of course, I had to let him into the secret partially, promising
him twenty-five dollars for himself."

"Ten would have been sufficient."

"He would not have been satisfied. We can spare that."

"How soon do you expect Fairchild back?"

"In three days."

But on the morrow Mullins was disconcerted by receiving the following
telegram:

"Expect me back sometime to-day. FAIRCHILD."

CHAPTER XXX.

THE ATTEMPTED ROBBERY.

Dick Ralston was in the real estate office when the telegram was
received. Indeed, he spent a good deal of his time there, so that it
was supposed by some that he had a share in the business.

"Look at that, Dick!" said the bookkeeper, passing the telegram to his
confederate.

"Confusion! What sends him home so soon?" said Ralston. "Do you suppose
he suspects anything?"

"No. How can he? Perhaps," said Mullins, nervously, "we had better give
up the whole thing. You see how I will be placed. I'm afraid I shall be
suspected."

"Look here!" growled Ralston, "I don't want to hear any such weak,
puerile talk. How do you propose to pay me the nine hundred and
sixty-odd dollars you owe me? Do you expect to save it out of your
salary?" he concluded, with a sneer.

"I wish we had never met," said the bookkeeper, in a troubled tone.

"Thank you; but it is too late for that. There is nothing to do but to
carry out our program. How much money is there on deposit in the bank?"

"About twenty-four hundred dollars."

"Then we had better draw out more than eighteen hundred. As well be
hanged for a sheep as for a lamb."

"You forget, Ralston, that such a wholesale draft will raise suspicion
at the bank."

"You're awfully cautious."

"I don't want everything to miscarry through imprudence."

"Come, it is ten o'clock. Better send Felix to the ban