"How did you find out, Paul? What a dreadful thing!" gasped Mrs. Hoffman. "It will be worse for them than for us, I am thinking," said Paul. "It was a boy told me--a boy that lives with them. I'll tell you about it." He gave his mother an account of what had already been communicated to him. "Oh, dear, we shall be murdered in our beds!" exclaimed his mother, in dismal accents. Upon this Jimmy began to cry, but Paul only laughed. "I thought you were braver, Jimmy," he said. "If I buy you a pistol, will you promise to use it?" "I don't know," said Jimmy, dubiously. "I should be afraid to shoot a great big man. Would he have a pistol, too?" "Probably." At this Jimmy began to cry again, and Paul hastened to say: "Don't be afraid; I don't mean to have you sleep in the house that night." "Where can we go?" "I think Mrs. Norton will let you stop with her that night." "And you will come, too, Paul?" said Mrs. Hoffman. "And let the house be robbed, mother? What would Mr. Talbot think of that?" "But you will be killed. What can you do against such bad men?" "What would you recommend, mother?" asked Paul. "You might write a letter to them, telling them you knew all about their plan and you would have them arrested if they came." "I don't think, mother," said Paul, laughing, "that that would be the best course. I want to get them here and catch them. Then they can be shut up, and we shall be safe from any further attempts. I am going to police headquarters, and they will tell me what to do. Probably two or three officers will be concealed in the house, and when the burglars are fairly in will arrest them." "You needn't stay, Paul." "It is my duty, mother. We are left by Mr. Talbot in charge of the house and what it contains. Some of us ought to be here at such a time. I will take care not to get into danger." Mrs. Hoffman was a woman and a mother, and it was with difficulty that Paul could convince her that it was his duty to remain. At length, however, she acquiesced, and agreed to go and see Mrs. Norton the next day and ask permission to remain with her on Monday night. The next day Julius came to Paul's stand. "Is there any news, Julius?" asked Paul. "Nothin' much," said Julius. "Jack wants me to call up to your house and find out where the gold is kept." "How does he think you are going to do it without my suspecting?" "He told me to go up and ask for some old clothes. Then, if you didn't let me into the house, I was to ask for something to eat." "A good plan." said Paul. "When are you coming?" "To-night." "Very well; I'll be ready for you. Is there any change in the evening?" "No. They're comin' Monday night." "I'll be ready for them," said Paul. "What are you goin' to do?" asked Julius, and he fixed a pair of sharp, black eyes on Paul. "Can I trust you, Julius?" demanded Paul, with a keen glance at the boy. "Yes," said Julius. "Then," said Paul, "I mean to have them arrested. They'll walk into a trap."