He decided to attempt to get nearer to them. Stealthily he crept from bush to bush, from tree to tree, until he was within ear-shot of the two plotters. Then he listened intently. “No need to tell the boy anything about our plans until we arrive on the ground,” Daley was saying. “Bob Grant?” “Yes.” “All right. Are you ready?” “Yes, I guess so.” “We’ll bring the tools?” “We may need them.” “Where is the house?” “Over near the lake.” “Rich man?” “Very.” “Money in the house?” “Lots of it, Tim said.” “Who is he?” “Judge Oglesby.” Dean Mercer now knew the plans of the robbers. They intended to rob his benefactor, the judge. By a singular combination of circumstances, Dean Mercer was enabled to warn and save from pillage the man he was accused of robbing himself. Dean acted on impulse. There seemed to be only one correct thing to do--hasten to the judge’s residence, tell him all his wretched story, and warn him of the intended robbery of the night. As the men reëntered the cabin, Dean Mercer dashed off on a keen run in the direction of the palatial house of Judge Oglesby. CHAPTER XXIV. WORSE AND WORSE. Marcus Ellison had only one thought in view as he rode in the stagecoach from Springfield with Daley and Spofford, and later entered the hut near the river at Millville, and that was to learn what they knew of the robbery and imprisonment of his friend, Dean Mercer. He saw the latter on the coach, and felt complacent. During the journey, of course he could not talk to Spofford, but when they reached the cabin he determined to question him deftly. Daley went away toward the village, after lighting a lantern taken from one of the satchels. Then Spofford produced a lunch, invited Marcus to partake of it, and then lighting his pipe, proceeded to examine the contents of the satchels. They contained a variety of burglars’ tools for forcing doors and the like, and Marcus inspected them curiously. Several times he endeavored to engage Spofford in conversation with a view to leading him to speak of Tim Downey, but the burglar was engrossed in examining the tools, and answered gruffly, and finally stretched himself on the floor and dozed placidly until Daley returned. Then, after a conversation outside with the latter, he returned to the cabin, took up one of the satchels, directed Marcus to carry the other, and said: “Come on, Bob; we are ready.” Marcus was in despair. He had so far utterly failed of his mission. He was far-sighted enough, too, to discern that the time for learning anything of the plot against Dean Mercer from these men had passed by. Furthermore, he was in a bad dilemma. These men were now on the verge of crime. He had accompanied them so far, and they would not be likely to allow him to leave their company until the crime they meditated was committed. Thus he would be forced into crime, as he had not contemplated.