He promised that he would be glad to do so, and departed.
"You may laugh all you're a mind to," said Fred, when he had gone, "but that's the man I saw peeping in the window, and he means to come back here to-night and rob you."
The boy told all that he knew, and the ladies, while not sharing his fright, agreed that it was best to take extra precautions in locking up.
CHAPTER IV. ON GUARD.
The sisters Perkinpine always retired early, and, candle in hand, they made the round of the windows and doors on the first floor.
When they came to the window from which the nail had been removed, Fred told them he had seen the tramp take it out, and he was sure he would try and enter there.
This served to add to the uneasiness of the sisters, but they had great confidence in the security of the house, which had never been disturbed by burglars, so far as they knew, in all its long history.
"The chest where we keep the silver and what little money we have," said Lizzie, "is up-stairs, next to the spare bed-room."