. I should like that, and shall be much obliged to you."

"You are sure you are not a burglar?" said the young man, with a brief
return of his former suspicion.

"Neither burglar nor ghost," said Jasper.

"What made you put on the sheet?"

"I was afraid you would take me for a burglar, so I meant to frighten
you and escape, concluding that you would be afraid to pursue me."

"That's so. I really thought you were a spirit."

"If you think so now, just feel my muscle," said Jasper, smiling.

"I don't think so now."

"If I am to sleep with you, here is your sheet. We can make better use
of it than in masquerading as ghosts."

Jasper undressed himself and got into bed. He learned that his
companion's name was Adam Diedrich, and that he kept a small cigar store
near-by.

CHAPTER XXX.

JASPER GETS A PLACE.

Jasper took breakfast the next morning with the friendly young German,
whose acquaintance he had so singularly made. Not a word was said as to
the manner in which he had entered the house. He was introduced by Adam
as "my friend, Mr. Kent."

After breakfast Jasper went around with his new friend to the place of
business of the latter. He decided not to call upon Mr. Fitch till about
ten o'clock.

While on his way to the merchant's counting-room he met the girl, Nancy,
with a tin pail in her hand. The girl's face lighted up when she saw
him.

"So you got off the roof," she said. "I was so afraid you would fall."

"Thank you, Nancy," said Jasper. "Thanks to you I am out of prison."

"But how did you get off the roof?"

Jasper gave her an account of his midnight adventures.

"And now tell me," he said, "how does your uncle take my flight?"

"He's awful mad about it," said the girl, shaking her head.

"What does he think? Does he suspect you?" asked Jasper, eagerly.

"He did at first, but he doesn't now. He's puzzled to know how you got
away. And Jack, he's mad, too."

"Jack, does he know it?"

"Yes; he came around to the house about eight o'clock. He was looking
seedy, as if he'd been up all night. As near as I can find out, he
failed in some job last night, and that made him cross."

"Very likely."

"'Have you carried up that boy's breakfast?' I heard him say.

"'No,' said my uncle.

"'Then give it to me, and I'll take it up; I want to talk to him.'

"So Uncle Nathan made me get the breakfast ready. I gave it to him, and
he went up. A minute after he roared down stairs:

"'Where