"There can't be any animals about," he thought. "Perhaps it's Luke Jackson's dog—he comes about here occasionally."
He heard the steps again, coming from toward the cottage. Then, before he could locate them closely, they ceased altogether.
"Tige! Tige!" he called, for that was the name of the dog to which he had referred.
No answer came back, nor did any dog put in an appearance. Ralph waited a few seconds longer, and then made straight for the house.
He found his mother sitting in the kitchen, nursing her pain as best she could.
"You have been quite long, Ralph," she said. "Or else it is my pain makes the time seem longer."
"I lost a little time at the post office, mother."
"At the post office! Why, what were you doing there at this time of night?"
"The safe has been blown open and robbed. It happened just as I came along."
"You don't say! Did you learn the particulars?"