"Humph! that's the man that came near getting robbed yesterday?" "Yes," answered Gerald, uneasily. "Lemme see. He kept a lot of gold pieces in the house." "You seem to know all about it." "Yes; I heard. He kept them in a tin box—very much like that," and the tramp indicated the box in the wagon. "Well, suppose he did?" said Gerald, eyeing his companion closely. The tramp laughed. "Only that you've got the box in this here wagon, and the gold, too." "Now for it!" thought Gerald. "The crisis is near at hand!" "You might be mistaken," he answered, trying not to show the excitement he felt. "And then again I mightn't. You're taking the gold to the bank in Fairfield." "Who told you so?" "Ah, the cat's out of the bag!" said the tramp, triumphantly. "Well," said Gerald, with apparent frankness, "as you seem to know I may as well own up that you are right. I am glad to have you with me, as some one might try to rob me, and I can rely on your assistance." The tramp laughed long and loud. "Oh, yes," he replied, "you can depend on me. I won't let anyone else have the money." "Thank you! I feel safe now." The tramp laughed again. To him it seemed like a delicious joke. He did not seem to be in a hurry to possess himself of the booty, as he felt sure he could have it at any time. It was a good joke that Gerald seemed quite unsuspicious of his intentions. "How much gold might there be in the box?" he asked. "Not far from a thousand dollars," said Gerald, frankly. The tramp smacked his lips. He had never before bagged so much booty. It really seemed like a big stroke of luck. "A thousand dollars!" he repeated. "That's a big sum!" "Yes, it is a large sum, as you say." "Suppose you and I divide it. That'll be five hundred apiece." "I see you are joking," said Gerald. "It isn't ours. It belongs to Mr. Nixon." "He's an old man. He don't need it. Besides, he has plenty more." "Has he really?" asked Gerald, innocently. "To be sure! Everybody knows that the old man is a miser. Why, I've no doubt he is worth ten thousand dollars." "Nor have I any doubt," said Gerald to himself. "But, of course, that is none of our business." "Look here, youngster; you seem to be as simple as they make 'em." "Why?" asked Gerald, in affected surprise. "You can't see that I am a bad man, and have made up my mind to have that gold." "You don't really mean it? You are trying to frighten me." "No more nonsense! Stop the horse, and I'll relieve you of the box." "But what will Mr. Nixon say?" "Tell him it was taken from you." "Oh, this is terrible! Won't you take ten dollars and let me go?" "No; I must have the whole. Stop the horse, I say!" With an appearance of great reluctance Gerald obeyed directions and halted the horse. The tramp descended from the wagon. "Now hand me the box," he said. Gerald allowed him to take out the box. Then he whipped up the horse, leaving the tramp, as he supposed, master of the situation.