"But we did not miss anything ourselves. One would think that if
thieves were about they would try to pick up something when there
was so much excitement. It seems very mysterious to me."

"Yes, and to every one," said Percival. Mr. and Mrs. Van der Donk
came in shortly, and for a time there was a very pleasant
conversation, but at last the old gentleman got upon the subject of
his family, and before long the boys were yawning, and the old lady
fast asleep.

"You will have to excuse us," said Percival, getting up, "but we
boys had very little sleep last night, and we have to be back at
nine o'clock in any event."

The boys took their leave, and when once clear of the house Percival
said with a grin:

"I could not stand the old man and his genealogy, although we could
have stayed an hour longer easily."

"I saw that you were beginning to yawn, and I must confess that I felt
a bit drowsy myself."

"We won't find out anything about the watch through that girl, Jack,"
said Percival a little later. "Our plans of being cautious and all
that did not amount to anything."

"No, and we are as much in the dark as before regarding the real
owner. We may never know who he is, Dick."