chain--which for many months after was a source of ceaseless worry to his
little mother, who firmly believed that its fame must have inspired every
burglar and miscellaneous thief in Victoria with an unholy longing to
possess it, was continually devising new hiding-places for the treasure,
and arose three or four times a night to at tack hypothetical marauders.

Returning from school at dinner-time on the day following, Dick found
Frank Hardy sitting in the parlour holding his mother's hand. Mrs. Hardy
and Harry were also there, and a few people were loitering about the
front, having called to congratulate Frank Hardy on his release; for
Frank had been given a free pardon in the Queen's name for the crimes it
was now known he had never committed.

Dick found Frank looking older and graver, much more like his mother,
whom he resembled in disposition too. He greeted the boy quietly but with
evident feeling.

'It seems I owe my liberty to your devilment, old boy,' he said later.

Dick was beginning to find the role of hero rather wearisome, and would
gladly have returned to his old footing with the people of Waddy, but
there was nevertheless a good deal of satisfaction in appearing as a
person of importance in the eyes of the Hardies, and he accepted the
implied gratitude without any excess of uneasiness.

'Well, I've got to pay you out, my lad,' Frank continued. 'Your mother
has been foolish enough to promise to be my wife, and that will place me
in the responsible position of father to the most ungovernable young
scamp in Christendom; and one of the conditions your mother makes is that
I am to prevent you from saving any more lives and reputations. What do