"Nothing like being read--"

"Oh, come off!"

"Well, I wish it would; there's something in the toe that hurts. Ow!"

He drew off the stocking and gravely examined the snug little wad in the
toe.

"The money!" cried Kent.

"Yes, sir, the money!" Jot echoed in astonishment.

"Why, so it is!" Old Tilly said in evident surprise. "Then the thieves
didn't get away with it, after all! I call that a lucky stroke--my
getting partly dressed overnight! No, hold on, you little chaps--don't
get uppy! I'll explain, honest I will! You see, I got up after a while
and put the money there for safe-keeping. I'd like to see the thief
that would look there for it! He'd get a good kick if he did!"

It was half an hour later when the trio settled back into sleep again.
In the east already there were dim outriders of day trailing across the
darkness.

Without further incident the three knights-errant got under way next
day. In a glare of July sunshine they rode away in search of
adventures, while Father and Mother Eddy in the kitchen doorway looked
after them a little wistfully.

"Bless their hearts!" mother murmured tender-wise.