“An’ sure, miss, what would they be afther in our poor bit of a hut?” laughed Nora. “There ain’t nothin’ there to stale, barrin’ me an’ the childer.”
The kind proposal was acceded to with hearty thanks. Nora, rejecting McAllister’s proffered services as escort, hastened away, and in a few minutes Barney presented himself in their midst.
The intervening time had been employed by them in disposing of the money for the night. Ronald would have had it laid under his pillow; but Miriam entered an indignant protest.
“What,” she asked, “was the money worth in comparison with his life? That should not be risked by having the filthy lucre in the same room with him.”
“The money is worth a great deal as the means of sustaining all our lives,” Ronald answered, quietly; “but since you reject my plan, what other have you to offer?”
“I will take the smaller notes and conceal them upstairs. If they come and find the larger ones, they will probably think that is all and look no farther; so none of our lives will be endangered, and the notes, being marked, may be recovered.”
“Yes,” the grandmother said; “we will put them in the parlor, and in not too unlikely a place, lest they should come to our bedrooms in search of them, and if we happen to wake, kill us to keep us from telling of them, and so bringing them to justice.”
These suggestions were immediately carried out. Miriam went into the parlor, without a light, fearing that even a slight gleam might furnish a clew to a lurking foe, put the bank-notes into a little chimney cupboard, locked it, and took away the key.
They retired early, as was their custom. Mrs. Heath, Miriam, and the two children slept upstairs; but Ronald’s bedroom was on the ground floor, opening into the sitting-room where they had passed the evening.
In this last Sandy and Barney took up their quarters for the night, each armed with a loaded revolver. It had been agreed that each should take his turn in watching while the other slept, and that upon any sound of approaching footsteps, or an attempt of any one outside to open window or door, the sleeper should be instantly roused by his companion.