e to take it. If I hurt you, you will
have yourself to blame."

So saying the man seized Phil, and then a struggle ensued, the boy
defending himself as well as he could. He made a stouter resistance than
the thief anticipated, and the latter became irritated with the amount
of trouble he had to take it. I should be glad to report that Phil
made a successful defense, but this was hardly to be expected. He was a
strong boy, but he had to cope with a strong man, and though right was
on his side, virtue in his case had to succumb to triumphant vice.

Phil was thrown down, and when prostrate, with the man's knee on his
breast, the latter succeeded in stripping him of the money he had so
bravely defended.

"There, you young rascal!" he said, as he rose to his feet; "you see how
much good you have done. You might as well have given up the money in
the first place."

"It was my duty to keep it from you, if I could," said Phil, panting
with his exertions.

"Well, if that's any satisfaction to you, you're welcome to it."

He went to the door and unlocked it.

"May I go now?" asked Phil.

"Not much. Stay where you are!"

A moment later and Phil found himself alone and a prisoner.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

Phil tried the door, but now it was locked on the outside, and he found
that he was securely trapped. He went to the window, but here, too,
there was no chance of escape. Even if he had been able to get safely
out, he would have landed in a back-yard from which there was no egress
except through the house, which was occupied by his enemies.

"What shall I do?" Phil asked himself, despairingly. "Mr. Carter will
be anxious about me, and perhaps he may think I have gone off with the
money!"

This to Phil was the worst of his troubles. He prized a good reputation
and the possession of an honorable name, and to be thought a thief would
distress him exceedingly.

"What a fool I was to walk into such a trap!" he said to himself. "I
might have known Mr. Carter would not be in such a neighborhood."

Phil was too severe upon himself. I suspect that most of my boy readers,
even those who account themselves sharp, might have been deceived as
easily. The fact is, rogues are usually plausible, and they are so
trained in deception that it is no reflection upon their victims that
they allow themselves to be taken in.

Hours passed, and still Phil found himself a prisoner. Each moment he
became more anxious