and ends of furniture was all that it contained.

"Where does this door lead to," asked Mr. Whitford, when he had made
a tour of the place.

"Nowhere. Oh, that is only down into the cellar." was the reply.
"There is nothing there."

"We can't take anything for granted," went on the agent with a
smile. "I'll take a look down there."

He descended with some of his men. Tom and Ned remained in the
kitchen of the cottage, while Andy and his father conversed in low
tones, occasionally casting glances at our heroes. Once Tom thought
Mr. Foger looked apprehensively toward the door, through which the
custom men had descended. He also appeared to be anxiously
listening.

But when Mr. Whitford came back, with a disappointed look on his
face, and said there was nothing to be found, Mr. Foger smiled:

"What did I tell you?" he asked triumphantly.

"Never mind," was the retort of Uncle Sam's man. "We are not through
with Shopton yet."

"I'm sorry we gave you so much trouble on a false clew," said Tom,
as he and Ned left the Foger premises with Mr. Whitford, the other
deputies following.