"I hope it will, in this case, at least," said the merchant; "for I believe this store has been fired, and perhaps robbed." "Shouldn't wonder if it had been robbed--more than likely it was, now I think of it." "But as everything is burned up, it will be almost impossible to find this out, as I can't really miss anything." "There will be a chance for some pretty sharp detective work, I should say." "You are good at that, I believe," said the merchant. "Well, I fancy they can't fool me much, if I do say it." "Then I want you to go to work on this case." "I will commence at once, Mr. Rexford. The guilty party can't escape me when I give my whole mind to it." "I hope you will put your whole mind on it, then." "I shall indeed, sir. I will go home now and form my theory. I have the facts to work on. Early in the morning I will see you, and we will compare notes and get ready for business--active business, I assure you." XVII. After being out during the night at the fire, and consequently having had his rest broken, Fred found it rather irksome to spring out of bed at five o'clock, get his breakfast, and be ready to respond to the factory whistle on a wintry morning. He had now got sufficient knowledge of his work, and found very little difficulty in performing it. Whenever he wanted any instruction or help, Carl seemed ready and glad to aid him, so the two boys soon became friends. "How long have you been on these flockers, Carl?" asked Fred the morning after the fire. "Only two months." "Where did you work before that? I don't remember ever having seen you till yesterday morning, and I don't know what your last name is now. I heard Mr. Hanks call you Carl, so I suppose that is your given name?" "Yes, my name is Carl Heimann; I have been in here ever since I came to Mapleton." "Where did you come from?" "My father and mother came from Germany when I was a small boy, and they lived in Rhode Island; but they both got sick and died, so I came here to live with my uncle." "What is your uncle's name?" Fred went on to inquire. "His name is Frank Baumgarten." "Oh, I've seen him plenty of times. I used to take goods to his house from the store. It seems queer that I never saw you." "I don't go out any nights, for I get tired out by working in here eleven hours and a half every day, I can tell you," said Carl. "Yes, I should think you would; you don't look very strong." "Well, I guess I can get along better now that you are here; but Tim Short used to shirk and crowd me. If Mr. Hanks would do his part of the work it wouldn't be so hard; but he won't do it, and is cross and finds fault if we don't hurry things up."