Instantly Frank recognized it as a box filled with various private documents, intrusted for safe-keeping to the bank, which he had often seen quietly reposing within the rifled vault. And his heart bounded for joy as he gazed upon it. If these boys, whoever and whatever they might be, had witnessed the robbery, then with the aid of their testimony, and this box to corroborate it, he would have no trouble in proving his own innocence before the world. "Speak, Barney!" he exclaimed, eagerly. "What place is this--what do you know of the robbery of the bank? Tell me all about it, and tell me slowly, so that I may be able to understand." "Well, den, Mister Mansfield, it's jest like dis," replied the bootblack, with the air of one who had suddenly attained greatness, and was fully aware of it, his companions gazing admiringly at him as he spoke. "Fust we fellers are wot dey call de 'bats in de wall,' or, in plain United States, a lot of chaps wot find it more convenient to live in dis here snug little hole than to sleep on the trucks when the winter-time comes on. Ter-night, as Sandy an' me an' another feller was a-comin' in from the thayter, we happened to see three fellers a-comin' out of the side door of the bank." "The Webster Bank?" cried Frank, trembling with excitement. "Of course. Wot other do you s'pose? We was a-comin' down Rector street just as these three fellers come a-sneakin' out. "We skinned over the church-yard fence, an' give 'em the bat-call, wot we gives to de fellers of our gang to let dem know we're around. "Giminnetti! you'd orter see 'em cut round the corner, an' the foremost of them dropped this here box in the snow." "I see it all!" cried Frank, bitterly. "Cutts knew of this intended robbery, and planned to have suspicion thrown upon me. Fool that I was to listen to his lying words!" "Betcher life," replied Barney, sententiously. "Hold up fer a minute, an' I'll tell you all about that, too." But Frank Mansfield failed to reply. Moving toward the pile of documents, he had, as well as his manacled hands would allow him, opened the one nearest the edge of the table, and was now examining it by the uncertain light of the lamp. What was this? Surely there must be some mistake! But no--here it was all down in black and white. "And I do give and bequeath to the said Frank Mansfield, when he shall have reached the age of twenty-two, all of the property herein described, the exact location of which will be found fully set down in the sealed parchment which accompanies this will. "Witness my hand and seal, "JEREMIAH MANSFIELD. "Witnesses: "ELIJAH CALLISTER. } "HENRY SMITH. } New York, 1879." It was the will of the boy's paternal grandfather, dated five years back, and on the very day preceding the old gentleman's death, as he had good cause to remember, and drawn in favor of himself. CHAPTER IX.