The pioneer express., 1907-02-15

It was long time before he showed
himself to Arch In his true character.
And then, when he did, the revelation
had been made 30 much BY degrees.
that the boy was hardly shocked to
find that his friend was q housebreaker
and highway robber. If y, q B; ~ n
Long before he had formed a plan
to rob the house Of Mr.. Trevlyn. It
was field that promised we'll. Mr..
Trevlyn. with the idiosyncrasy Of age.
had invested most Of his fortune In dia-
monds, and these he kept in chamber
In his house. His chief delight con-
sisted in gloatfng over these precious
stones. Night after night he would
sit handling his diamonds, chuckling
over his wealth. and threatening i'm
aginary plunderers with destruction.
So, his servants said, and Sharp re.
peated the story to Arch with sundry
variations and alterations suited to the
case. He had a persuasive tongue, and
1t is little wonder that the boy, hating
his grandfather as he did, and resolved
as he was upon revenging his father 8
wrongs, should fall into the snare. He
wanted Mr.. Trevlyn to suffer-he did
not care how. If the loss of his dia-
monds would be to him severer blow
than any other, then let it fall.
Sharp used many specious arguments
to induce Arch to become his accom-
plice in robbing the Trevlyn mansion,
but the only one which had any weight
was that he could thus revenge his
fathers wrongs. -
Only assist me, and secure your re:
venge," said the willy schemer, "and
l will share the spoils with you. There
will be enough to enrich us both for
life'
Arch drew himself up proudly, fiery
red OIL his cheek, dangerous CLEAN in
his dark eye.
II am no thief, sir! I'd scorn to take
a cent from that old man to use for my
benefit! I-would not touch his dia-
monds if they lay here at my feet. But
if can make him suffer anything like
as my poor father suffered through him,
then l am ready to turn robber-yes,
pickpocket, if you will!" he added saw
agely.
Sharp appointed the night. His
plans were craftily laid. Mr.. Trevlyn
he had ascertained would be absent on
Thursday night; he had taken little
journey into the country for his health.
and only the servants and his ward
would sleep in the house.
Thursday night was dark and rainy
At midnight Sharp and Arch stood be-
fore the house they were to plunder.
No thought of shame nor sin entered
Archer Trevlyn's heart; he did not
seem to think he was about to dis
grace himself for life; he thought only
of Mr.. Trevlyn's dismay when he
should return and find the bulk of his
riches swept away from him at one
blow.
'He took all my father had" he said,
under his breath: ''he would have sui
lied the fair fame of my mother, and
if could take from him everything but
life, would do it,
Sharp, with dexterous skill, re.
moved the fastenings of shutter, and
then the window yielded readily to his
touch. He stepped inside; Arch fol-
lowed. All was quiet, save the heavy
ticking of the old clock on the hall
stairs. Up the thickly carpeted stair
way, along the corridor they passed,
and Sharp stopped before closed door
eve must pass through one room be-
fore reaching that where the safe is
which contains the treasure" he said,
in whisper. "It is possible that there
may be some one sleeping in that room.
If so, leave them to me, that is all.'