"Perhaps I can guess what you did--was it that you locked the door of
your little den, Jack?"

"Well, now, you are a champion guesser, for that was just what I did,
every day up to this one--shut down the window, locked the door, and
never went up there once," replied his comrade, with surprise written
on his face.

"And nothing was missing?"

"Not a coin. I counted six myself this morning when I went upstairs just
to get something out of the snuggery."

"Did you forget to lock it after you, Jack?"

"No; but an idea came to me. At the time I thought it a bright one; but
now I'm more than half sorry I ever tried it."

"Oh! then you left the door unlocked again on purpose?"

"Yes, and with the window open, at that. The invitation was plain
enough," murmured Jack, with dejection in his voice and manner.

Paul seemed to ponder over the matter; and indeed it was quite enough to
try any boy's wits.

"Do you happen to know if any fellow called to see you to-day while you
were out?" he asked, presently.

"Now, I thought of that, and asked both my brother and Maggie to pay