ther take care of myself. Will you open the door?"

"I couldn't, but I'll bring you up some supper directly."

The sliding-door was closed suddenly, and again Jasper found himself in
the dark, fully understanding now that he was a prisoner, but why, he
could not form a conjecture.

CHAPTER XXVI.

IN CONFINEMENT.

Soon the old man reappeared and opened the sliding-door. He carried a
small waiter containing a cup of tea, a plate of cold meat, and a slice
of white bread without butter.

"We don't want you to starve," he said. "Here's something to stay your
stomach. You're hungry, ain't you?"

Jasper admitted that he was.

"I thought so. When I was your age I was always eating. Never could get
enough."

Jasper wondered, if this were the case, why the old man had not grown
larger, but he did not say this. He took the waiter from Nathan and set
it on his lap, there being no table.

"I hope you don't mean to keep me long as a boarder," he said. "You
won't find it profitable, boarding me for nothing."

"That isn't for me to say," said Nathan. "Jack and Bill will see to
that."

"Did they tell you to confine me?"

"Yes; I told you that already."

"Will you ask them to come up and speak to me? I want to know why I am
here."

"They ain't at home now. I'll tell them when they come in."

"Thank you. Do you think that will be to-night?"

"Not likely. They'll come in so late you'll be abed and asleep."

"Don't let them go out to-morrow morning without seeing me."

"I'll tell them."

The old man waited till Jasper had finished eating, and then took the
waiter back through the window.

"Won't you let me have a light?" asked Jasper. "I don't want to stay
here in the dark."

"You'll set the house on fire," said the old man, hesitating.

"And get burned up myself? I should be fool to run such a risk as that."

This consideration suggested itself to the old man's judgment, and he
promised to bring up a lamp before long.

This he really did. Jasper found it a great relief. He was now broad
awake, the effect of the drug having passed off.

There was nothing to do, indeed, but his thoughts were busy, and he
tried hard to devise some method of escape, in case he should not be
released.

The next morning breakfast was brought to him about eight o'clock. It
was not till ten that the sliding-door was opened and the face of Jack
appeared at the opening.

"Well, boy, how do you like your quarters?" he ask