Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/307



him, kneeling upon the floor of the barn, in front of a low chest or bin, Robert perceived an old man. So engrossed had the man been in his own work, or so quiet had been Robert's approach, that the young express had stepped upon the floor before the other man had been made aware of his coming. An expression of consternation and fear swept over the man's face when he saw that he was discovered, and with a quick motion of his arm he swept something from the top of the chest into his pocket. Quick as was his action, Robert had seen what it was that the man was striving to conceal, and for a moment he hardly dared to trust the evidence of his own eyes, for it was money which the stranger had been examining, and a large roll of bills had been evidently in his possession.

Surprised as Robert was by the unexpected sight, the expression on his face did not change as he led his horse into the barn, and