street. The workmen had either neglected to leave a red lantern,
or malicious boys had stolen it.

Another moment and the horses would have been in this excavation
and even now the carriage swayed. One forward wheel went over
the edge of the hole, and for the minute it was doubtful whether
Hiram had saved the occupants of the carriage by his quick
action, or had accelerated the catastrophe.



CHAPTER IV

THE LOST CARD

Had Hiram Strong not been a muscular youth for his age, and
sturdy withal, the excited horses would have broken away from him
and the carriage would certainly have gone into the ditch.

But he had a grip on the bridle reins now that could not be
broken, although the horses plunged and struck fire from the
stones of the street with their shoes. He dragged them forward,
the carriage pitched and rolled for a moment, and then stood
upright again, squarely on its four wheels.

"All right, lad! I've got 'em!" exclaimed the gentleman in the
carriage.

He had a hearty, husky sort of voice--a voice that came from deep
down in his chest and was more than a little hoarse. But there