opportunity, Elmer would steal. He hoped that his cousin would forget about
the stones; so he decided not to refer to them any more and to play with
them only when he was alone.

During the evening nothing unusual happened, and when it was time to retire
for the night, Edwin was told that the bed that he had occupied the night
before was to be his permanent sleeping-quarters. The moon was shining
bright and clear, and beneath its silver rays the two boys crept into bed.
Both were very still; in fact, they were so very quiet that in a short time
each thought the other asleep. It was therefore a surprize to Edwin when he
felt his cousin creeping stealthily from the bed and out upon the floor
where the rays of the moon were the brightest.

As Edwin had inherited from his mother a natural love for neatness, he had
already formed the habit of hanging his clothing upon the bedpost, and,
turning softly in the bed, he could see from where he was lying, a sight
that made him tremble with excitement. Elmer's hand was already in the
pocket containing the treasured stones, and Edwin could not help
exclaiming:

"What are you doing there, Elmer? Don't take those stones! They are mine!"

Elmer quickly withdrew his hand when he heard his cousin speak, for he did
not expect to be caught; but in an irritated tone a voice from the bed
opposite the boys said:

"Ed, what's the matter with you? Can't you let that boy alone? Shut your
mouth I say and let him have those stones if he wants them, for what are
they worth, anyway?"