Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/99

Rh Before Bob could reply, Mr. Haven sank into a chair with a groan.

"They have taken everything," he declared, "the silverware, the watches and chains, and all the solid gold goods we carried."

"Did they amount to much?" asked the marshal.

"Over five thousand dollars."

"Too bad! My assistant watchman and myself patrolled the town all night. He reported no suspicious persons about, and I saw none."

"They got in easily, and took what they liked."

Neither Frank nor Bob ate much breakfast that morning. They were too excited to think of anything except the robbery. When they started for school the whole village was aroused over the robbery. Everybody was talking about it. When they got to the schoolhouse even the smallest scholars spoke of the event.

Frank felt pretty bad. Bob was very sorry for Mr. Haven. He told Frank so, and tried to cheer up his chum.

"The robbers must have been strangers," he said.

"I think that," returned Frank.

"The marshal has got half a dozen men started in different directions. They are bound to get some idea of the way the thieves have gone."

"I hope so. Why, they even locked the door after them when they went away! My father has offered two hundred dollars reward."

Bob did not do much studying that day. When school was over in the afternoon he went home with Frank to hear if anything had been heard of the robbers.

Mr. Haven was seated on the porch, talking gloomily with a lawyer. Mrs. Haven was about her work as usual, but looked very serious.