For a full minute Paul and the burglar faced each other without either moving. The telegraph boy of course waited for some aggressive movement on the part of his opponent. In that case he would not hesitate to fire. He felt the reluctance natural to any boy of humane instincts to take human life, and resolved, if possible, only to disable the ruffian. His heart quickened its pulsations, but in manner he was cool, cautious and collected. If the burglar had seen any symptoms of timidity or wavering, he would have sprung upon Paul. As it was, he was afraid to do so, and was enraged at himself because he felt cowed and intimidated by a boy. He resolved to inspire fear in Paul if he could. “I have a great mind to kill you,” he growled. “Two can play at that game,” said Paul, undaunted. “Look here! You are making a fool of yourself. You are risking your life for nothing.” “I am only doing my duty,” said Paul, firmly. “The kid’s in earnest,” thought the burglar. “I must try him on another tack. “Look here,” he said, changing his tone. “You are a poor boy, ain’t you?” “Yes.” “Just you lower that weapon, and don’t interfere with me, and I will make it worth your while.” “What do you mean?” asked Paul, who, however, suspected the burglar’s meaning. “I mean this,” said the intruder, in an insinuating tone. “Let me open the safe and make off with the contents, and I’ll give you a liberal share of it.” “What do you take me for?” demanded Paul, indignantly. “For a boy, of course. What do you care for the people in the house? They are rich and can afford to lose what will make us rich. Let me know where you live, and I’ll deal squarely with you. I mean it. All you’ve got to do is to go back to bed, and they’ll think you slept through and didn’t see me at all. What do you say?” “I say no a thousand times!” answered Paul, boldly. “I may be poor all my life long, but I won’t be a thief.” The burglar’s face expressed the rage he felt. It was very hard for him to resist the impulse to spring upon Paul, but the resolute mien of the boy satisfied him that it would be very dangerous. “You refuse then?” he said, sullenly. “Yes; you insult me by your proposal.” “I wish I had brought a pistol; then you wouldn’t have dared speak to me in that way.” Paul was relieved to hear this. He had concluded that the burglar was unarmed, but didn’t know it positively. Now he could dismiss all fear. “Well,” he said, “are you going?” The burglar eyed our hero during a minute of indecision, and decided that his plan was a failure. He certainly could not open the safe within range of a loaded revolver, and should he attack Paul, would not only risk his life, but rouse the house, and fall into the hands of the police, a class of men he made it his business to avoid. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but he must submit. “Will you promise not to shoot if I agree to leave the house?” “Yes.”