“They ought to be safe there, Ben,” returned Dave. “I don’t see what a thief could do with miniatures, and I don’t believe your father’s office is liable to catch fire.”
“And that safe must be fire-proof,” put in Roger.
“I think it is fire-proof,” returned the real estate dealer’s son. “And I guess you are right about thieves––they would rather steal money or jewelry or silverware, or something like that, every time.”
Used to a life in the open air, and to riding and driving, the sleighing in and around Crumville proved to be a constant delight to Belle and Cora. As a consequence, it was arranged by the boys that the whole crowd should go out in a large sleigh, to be procured from the local livery stable and to be drawn by four reliable horses.
“We’ll put a lot of straw in the bottom of the sleigh and make it a sort of straw-ride,” declared Dave.
“And just to think! it will be moonlight!” cried his sister. “Won’t that be the finest ever!”
“It certainly will be!” came from Jessie, her eyes beaming. But then she turned suddenly to 96 Dave, her face clouding a little. “Who is going to drive––you?”
“No, we’re going to have a regular man from the livery stable,” he answered. And then as his sister turned away, he added in a low tone: “I didn’t want to spend my time on the horses––I wanted to spend it on you.”
“Oh, Dave!” murmured the girl, and blushed. Then she gave him a look that meant a great deal.
The sleighing-party was to start off about two o’clock the next afternoon, and did not expect to return to Crumville until well towards midnight. They were to go to the town of Lamont, about seventeen miles away. A new restaurant had been opened in this town, in connection with the hotel, and Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth had stopped there for a meal and had pronounced it excellent, the food being of first-class quality and an orchestra being present to liven matters up. Ben had thought at first that he could not accompany the others, his father having been taken sick; but as Mr. Basswood’s illness was not of a serious nature, Mrs. Basswood, knowing how disappointed the youth would be, urged that he go along anyhow.