lure. Why, at forty I considered
myself a young man, and was full of dash and enterprise. Now I am sixty
and tied to my seat by this spinal trouble. However, I've got something
laid by, and, old as I am, I feel independent as far as money goes."

Half an hour--an hour--passed, and still the old man found himself alone.
His messenger had not come back.

But there came up the path a tall, muscular figure, who greeted the old
man in a bluff, off-hand way.

"How are you, Luke?" said the old man. "I was feeling lonely. I am glad to
see you."

"Have you been alone since morning?"

"Not quite all the time. I had quite a long call from a stranger."

"A stranger!" repeated Luke suspiciously. "What was his appearance?"

The old man described Burns, and Luke knew him at once.

"What did he say to you?"

"That reminds me--he said he knew the boy whom Horace has put in the
store--young Ray."

"Did he?"

"Yes, and he doesn't speak well of him."

"What does he say about him?"

"I don't like to tell you, Luke, for I believe he is a protege of yours."

"Don't mind that. If there is anything to be said unfavorable of Ernest I
ought to know it."

"He says the boy robbed a store in which he was employed, and then
pretended it was entered by thieves. It was on that account, he says, that
the boy was compelled to leave the town where he lived and come to
California."

"Really, that is very interesting. To my own personal knowledge the boy
was never before employed in a store, and he came out to California with
me."

"Then what could the man mean?"

"I can't say. I can only tell you that he is a professional thief."

"Look quick, Luke, and see if my gold watch is hanging on a nail near the
cupboard."

"No, it is not there."

"Then the rascal must have stolen it. I gave him a Mexican dollar to buy
some eggs at the store."

"I don't think you will ever see it again, unless I catch the thief, as I
may to-night."

CHAPTER XXX

A BURGLAR'S FAILURE

If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape
with the money and gold watch he had already secured. But he was too
greedy for gain.

He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in
during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it. There might be
one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could
easily overpower.

Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getti