"Preston," said Mr. Smith, jokingly, "I hope you have your bonds locked securely up."
"I don't believe the sharpest burglar can find them," said Preston. "I only wish I could get hold of them myself."
"The boy who helped to capture the burglar ought to be well rewarded," said one of the boarders.
"Don't you wish it had been you, Courtney?" said Mr. Preston.
"It was," answered Frank, quietly.
There was a great sensation upon this announcement. All eyes were turned upon our hero—most, it must be admitted, with an expression of incredulity.
"Come, now, you are joking!" said Preston. "You don't really mean it?"
"I do mean it," assured Frank.
"Tell us all about it," said Mrs. Fletcher, who had her share of curiosity. "I didn't suppose we had such a hero in our house."
"It didn't require much heroism," said Frank, smiling.