out on them unawares.

As they walked slowly along the road he spoke in the affectionate manner
in which Mr. Stormways had declared his utmost faith in the honesty and
integrity of his two boys.

"But you're not sure that Karl has anything to do with the disappearing
coins. Other boys may have been up there to-day?" suggested his friend,
quickly.

"I asked mother, and she said she didn't remember that any one had come
to see me. No, the more I think about it the worse I feel. But I guess
you didn't have any time to see old Doc. Thomes before you went to the
city, did you?"

"That's just what I did, dropped into his shop, told him I was going down
to New York on business for dad, and asked if I could do anything for
him."

"Oh! how bright of you, Paul. And what did he say to that?"

"It seemed to quite tickle the old chap. He said he had a little package
he wanted to send in to a dealer on Fourteenth Street, and would be glad
if I took it to him, instead of his sending it by express."

"A package, Paul; did he say what it contained?" demanded the other,
almost holding his breath with sudden alarm.

"Yes, a lot of old coins he had been buying lately. Now, hold your
horses, Jack, my boy. He hadn't made it up yet, and I helped him do it.