house sooner than we meant. Suppose we say
Saturday night?"

"The boy will be in the house."

"It can't be helped. If he makes trouble we must silence him."

"I'd rather have a clear field Monday night."

"So would I; but suppose the cops are waiting for us?"

"If I thought Julius would do that," said Jack, scowling at the
sleeping boy, "I'd kill him myself."

"I don't see why we can't do it Saturday night. We can easily
overpower young Hoffman. As for Julius, he'll be asleep. Of course, he
mustn't know of our change of plan."

"If you think it best," said Morgan in a tone of indecision; "but I'm
almost sure I can trust the boy."

"I trust nobody," said Marlowe. "I wouldn't trust my own brother, if
he had an interest in goin' against me."

"Do you trust me?" asked Jack, smiling.

"Yes, I trust you, for we are both in the same boat. It wouldn't do
you any good to betray me."

"Yes, we're both in the same boat, but you're steerin'. Well, Marlowe,
just make your plans, and count me in. You always had a better
headpiece than I."

"Then Saturday night let it be. To-day's Thursday."

"Then we have only two days to get ready."

"It will do."

"We'll lock the boy in that night, so he can't make mischief if he
wakes up and finds that we are gone."

During this conversation Julius remained fast asleep. Jack soon lay
down, and Marlowe also, the latter having taken up his quarters with
his friend. The next morning Julius was the first to wake. He leaned
on his elbow and looked carelessly at the sleepers. Big, bloated, with
a coarse, ruffianly face, Jack lay back with his mouth open, anything
but a sleeping beauty. Julius had never thought much of his
appearance, but now that he had himself begun to cherish some faint
aspirations to elevate himself above his present condition, he looked
upon his associates with different eyes, and it struck him forcibly
that his guardian had a decidedly disreputable look.

"I won't stay with him long," thought Julius. "If he's took by the
cops, I'll set up for myself and never go back to him."

Marlowe lay alongside of his companion, not so disreputable as he in
appearance, but not a whit better as regards character. He was the
abler of the two mentally, and so was the more dangerous. As Julius
looked at him carelessly, he was startled to hear Marlowe talk in his
sleep. He was prompted by a natural curiosity to listen, and this was
what he heard:

"Don't trust the boy! Mak