"That's true enough. And I can see now that you're wondering why none have been taken all this time, up to to-day," remarked Jack, as he came alongside his chum, who was looking in at a window where sporting goods made a brave display.
"Will Carlo hang around and wait for you a bit?" asked Paul, looking with a smile toward the big Newfoundland dog that had been trotting at the heels of his young master, carrying a basket, in which were several packages from the store.
"Sure. He's well trained, and that is one of the smallest of his stunts, as you know. See, he has laid the basket down, and stands guard over it. I dare any dog in Stanhope to try and take it away. Now, you want to know about my poor old batch of coins!"
"I'm waiting to hear, old fellow," said Paul, tenderly; for he could see that his chum was once again highly charged with emotion.
"I thought I'd try a scheme unbeknown to you," began the other, slowly.
"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.
"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 particular attention to it, if any boy stopped over, hoping I would come in."
"It's kind of queer, but do you know, for a wonder not a single fellow has been at our house this blessed day. Generally half a dozen call to see me, you know, to borrow books from my library, or talk over matters connected with our school society. It just looks as if everything wanted to mix me up worse than ever, and make me think--"