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 a rare scheme, remember, though its bad enough to think about."

"Then it was just a clever plan to rob two boys?" Philip asked, tapping his fingers on the table reflectively. Was he, or was he not, quite satisfied of it?

"Positively. Nothing more romantic, I am sure," responded Mr. Hilliard. "I must say I think that sufficiently exciting to satisfy most people. You will not be likely to hear of him again; I may."

Mr. Hilliard touched his bell. George came in. "I shall want you to mail these letters at once," said his master; "and these must go by hand to the newspaper-offices addressed."

Each envelope contained a notice cautioning all persons against putting any confidence in the pseudo Hilliard, whom the advertisement briefly described, denouncing him in the usual form.

"Now for bed!" ejaculated the boys' host as George vanished. "Excitement has kept you from realizing how your journey has tired you. I am glad that Gerald was so used up. There is no need to tell all our disagreeable theories to so young a boy as he. We must