blotting the fresh ink and passing the paper half forward.

Stifling a sigh, Mr. Forrester rose, going to his safe. A few turns of
the combination lock and he pulled the steel door open.

"Nine hundred and fifty dollars that came in this afternoon. I intended
to bank it in the morning," he said, then began to count "If a burglar
broke in to-night and cracked the safe," he added, with a laugh, "I'd
be glad, in the morning, that I had settled this bill with cash."

Jack received the bills with a rapidly beating heart. He counted them,
found the amount correct, and passed half the money to Hal Hastings.

"For safety, Hal," he suggested, "I think we'd better divide the money,
and then each of us put half of his own pile in each shoe."

Mr. Forrester watched with something like an amused smile as the two
youngsters crossed the room, removing their shoes, and putting small
packets of bills down inside.

"I suppose that's in order that a hold-up artist would pass the money
by," he chuckled. "Well, boys, I wish you a safe journey back with your
money. We don't often have any hold-ups on these quiet roads, anyway."

Before leaving, Jack took pains to thank his host again, very
courteously, for the settlement of the account. Then the boys went
outside, untied the horse, got into the buggy and drove away.

"Well, that's a pretty smooth profit for one evening," laughed Jack, as
he turned the horse's head into the highway.