“Come down, Albert!” he called at the foot of the attic stairs. “I want you to help me take away the ladder.”
“I’ll be down in a jiffy,” said Albert.
The two boys descended the stairs and went out into the yard. They picked up the ladder and carried it to the barn, in which they placed it.
“This is a regular lark!” said Albert. “I wouldn’t have missed it for a dollar. How does Mr. Winter take it?”
“He’s scared out of his wits.”
“It’s lucky there were two able-bodied men on hand,” said Albert with a comical look, “or the house would have been robbed. Has Mr. Winter got the gold in his room?”
“Yes; I saw the box standing in one corner.”
“It’s lucky for us we ain’t rich. We needn’t be afraid of burglars.”
At the breakfast table Mrs. Winter said, “I do hope, Mr. Winter, you’ll take that gold to the bank. We don’t want any more midnight callers.”
“So I will,” answered her husband, with unwonted meekness, “but—but suppose the robber should stop me on the way.”