“Sometime in the evening or night. The outer door was left unlocked, through the neglect of my son, Philip, who sat up later than his mother or myself. Unfortunately, I had myself carelessly left my bunch of keys, including the key to this trunk, on my desk, so that the thief found his work very easy.” “You and Philip were both careless. Have you got track of the rogue?” “I think I have,” answered Colonel Ross, in a significant tone. “I’m glad on’t. These fellows ought to be caught. I don’t have much sympathy for a thief.” “I am glad to hear you say so,” said Colonel Ross. “You didn’t think I had, did you?” asked the old man, puzzled. “I thought you might have, when you came to know who it was I suspect.” “I don’t see as that will make any difference. Who is it?” “My son, just before retiring, saw a person prowling round the house, and looking into the window. Doubtless, he saw the bunch of keys, and was tempted to enter and steal the bonds.” “Have you arrested him?” “Not yet; but probably I shall before long.” “Who is it, Colonel Ross?” asked Mrs. Gilbert, with interest. “Madam,” said the Colonel, slowly, “it pains me to say that the person seen prowling round my house, and looking in at my window, was your son, Harry!” “Harry!” ejaculated the widow, scarcely thinking she had heard aright. “It’s ridiculous!” exclaimed Uncle Obed. “Colonel Ross,” said Harry, rising to his feet, and confronting the visitor, with clear eyes and an expression of honest indignation, “do you mean to say that you suspect me of stealing any of your property?” “Young man, I advise you not to be impudent or brazen-faced. Do you mean to deny that you were near my house last evening between half-past nine and ten o’clock?” “No, I don’t. I did pass your house about that time.” “I am glad you have the sense to own it. You may as well confess the rest—that you entered through the unlocked door, opened my small trunk, and took out two government bonds of a hundred dollars each.” “Whoever charges me with that utters a falsehood,” said Harry, boldly. “I passed your house, but I did not enter it, and did not even look in the window, and it is news to me that the door was unlocked, or the keys on the desk. In fact, I didn’t know you had a trunk in which you kept your bonds.” “Of course you deny it,” said Colonel Ross, “but I think it entirely likely that the stolen bonds are at this very moment hidden beneath this roof.” CHAPTER XXXVII — SEARCHING THE COTTAGE “Colonel Ross, your suspicions are very insulting and entirely unwarranted,” said the Widow Gilbert, with a flush on her usually pale cheek. “Of course I knew you would not believe anything against your son, whom you believe to be a model,” said Colonel Ross, with a sneer. “So he is—a model!” said the widow, warmly. “Then all I can say is that there is a strong reason to suspect that this model son of yours is a thief.” “I deny it.”