"
"All right. Fire away."
"He came after some burglar's tools."
Dick stepped back in astonishment. "You surely don't mean it!" he
gasped "Who was he going to rob?"
"The widow's house. He knows she is away and has left considerable
money in her desk."
And in a rapid manner I told Dick of what I had overheard, omitting
the mentioning of my father's and Mr. Woodward's names. Of course he
was tremendously excited. What healthy country boy would not be?
"What are you going to do about it?" he questioned.
"Now I'm free I'm going to catch the fellow," I returned decidedly.
"He shall not rob Mrs. Canby's house if I can help it."
"Aren't you afraid?"
"I intend to be cautious."
"He may have a pistol."
"The widow left one in the house. Maybe I can secure it. Then we'll be
on an equal footing."
"I've got a pistol, Roger."
"You!"
"Yes, the Models all carry them. Dunc always insisted that it was the
proper thing."
As Dick spoke, he produced a highly polished nickel-plated
five-shooter.
"It looks like a good one," I said, after examining it. "Is it
loaded?"
"Oh, yes; and I've got a box of cartridges in my pocket besides.
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