from seeing my girl; she is a good one, and I think will make me
happy; had a long walk, though; over two miles, and I think I deserve a
glass."

Josh. was telling about Mrs. Maroney's quarrel. Rivers heard him
patiently through, and they had two or three drinks, when Mrs. Cox
stalked into the room. All the women in Jenkintown seemed on the
rampage, at least all those we are dealing with.

"Josh., you lazy, good for nothing fellow, I have been looking all over
the village for you!"

"Why, you ought to know you could find me here," said Josh.

"Come home at once; sister wants you to watch the house to-night! some
one has been lurking around there, and she wants you to find out who it
is."

"Well," said Josh., carelessly, "I'll come."

Rivers now spoke up: "I am not very busy just now, and I will watch with
you."

"Will you?" said Mrs. Cox, in a pleased tone; "would be much obliged to
you if you would; Josh. has been drinking so much that I can't place
much reliance on him."

"Certainly," said Rivers, and the trio started for the scene of action.

Mrs. Maroney was in bed when they arrived, but she hastily rose and came
to the door in her night dress.

"Now, Josh.," she commanded, "I want you to keep a close watch, and if
De Forest, or any one else comes by the cellar-window, just you think
they are coming to rob your house, and fire! Here is my revolver."

"I will take care of that," said Rivers, "I am going to stay up and
watch with Josh."

"Oh, thank you! Josh., you had better let Mr. Rivers have the revolver."

She went in, and Josh. turned the revolver over to Rivers. They then
secreted themselves where they could see any one coming into the yard.
In less than an hour Josh. was snoring. At three in the morning Rivers
roused him up, got him into the house, and then, thoroughly tired out,
started for home.

_CHAPTER XXII._

In the morning Jenkintown enjoyed the calm that always follows the
storm. Madam Imbert called on Mrs. Maroney, and found her suffering from
a severe headache. She said she feared she had taken too much champagne
the day before, and believed that De Forest had attempted to get her
drunk. She could not imagine why he watched the house. She was bound to
have nothing more to do with him, as she was certain he was a tool of
the Express Company. "And yet," she said, "I thought he was a man above
that sort of business! I thought he would disdain to sell himself for
such a purpos