The Triple Alliance

to enjoy all the rights and privileges of Ronleigh College boys. They wrote letters to Miss El

atch against them last week on their ground, and they gave us tea

he finished the sentence; "

nswered Jack Vance; "th

him alone he won't

orgotten what you said about his father, and he's only waiting for a

le those boys who lived within a short distance of the school to spend the week end at home; while, in the winter or

And, I say, I've got a grand idea: I'm going to write and get my mater to invite you fellows to come too! It would be jolly

with the idea. "But d'you really think

r," answered Jack, and straightw

d talk or think of little else besides their projected excursion. At length Saturday came, and as soon as morning school was over they rushed upstairs to change into their best clothes;

e train, who should come out of t

st be going home too; I ho

to force his society on the Triple Alliance; he passed them with a

e managed to carry out his intention of being home in time for dinner; and the three boys, after receiving a

e that was to let just on the other side of

t know,

, the uncle of your fr

Fancy his coming to live so near to us as that! We saw

er old fellow, who lives by himself, and never makes friends or speaks to any one. He's supposed to be very clever, and I've hea

ly, "that as he's a hermit that's wh

eaking with his mouth pretty fu

y from home just now; he was suffering from rheumatism very badly,

nd when at length they rose from the table

dly nautical turn of mind, had turned into a sort of miniature shipbuilding yard for the construction of model vessels; though

d themselves for some time boring holes in the door with a brace

ory. He immediately seconded the proposition, and Mugford, after a m

a long stretch of brick wall, the top of which was

said Jack. "I smashed the glass with a hammer, because I lost a

. Emerging from the bushes, they found themselves standing on a gravel path, green with moss and weeds, which ran round the house-a queer, dilapidated-looking buil

hadn't we better go back? wha

bout," answered Jack. "Let's go on an

lightful sense of uncertainty that at any moment some one might pounce out u

been inside?"

has except the doctor, and an old wom

n," answered Diggory, wi

might be had up f

steal anything.-Here, Mug,

inued, walking up to one of the windows. "No,

had just succeeded in raising the sash the fraction of an i

he owner; "let's go back

ho was always infected with the adventurous spi

e sash, and a few seconds later Diggory mounted the ledge and scram

not wishing to be left alone outside, was not lo

eological and other specimens, occupied much of the wall space; while in the centre of the floor stood a large writing-table, covered with a m

round in silence. The place did not look very

here: he don't seem very careful how h

es, an iron safe had been let into the wall. The heavy door was standing half open, while

He turned the handle as he spoke, and walked out into a gloomy little hall paved with cold,

rther," murmured Mugford;" we've seen enou

for Diggory suddenly raised his hand, excl

urnip of a watch was distinctly aud

it, Dig

e it is aga

s hand. "Didn't you hear footsteps?" he asked. "I'm cer

mpered Mugford; "I knew w

back towards the library door. "Stay here half

tood in the dark passage awaiting their companion'

e's no one there. I m

alo

e Hermitage. Diggory lingered for a moment to close the window, an

art like that," said Jack, as they paused for a m

h as if some one was walking on it," returned the

the end of the evening their adventure was wellnigh forgotten. They were destined, however, to remember it for many a long day to come, and bef

servant entered the room, and addressing her master said,

m his chair, remarking

of you young gentle

en Mr. Vance returned and r

hear the dog bark l

; w

think the thieves must have come through our garden; there were s

roats, and their mouths grew dry and parched. Jack stared at M

ooks after the house went there this morning, and found that the iron safe in which the old chap keeps his coins had been opened and the whole collection remo

if they are caught?"

suppose; it's a serious

are!" said Mrs. Vanc

tired. Wouldn't you

ay into some place where they could indulge in a little private conversation. Diggory

aimed, "we're i

steal the coins

but it looks as if we'd done it; and if they find out we got into t

rt silence; the

who proposed going inside the pl

ain about those footmarks; and when it comes out that we got into the house, I should think we are pretty certain to be charged with having

th they did fall asleep, it was only to dream of being chased by "The Hermit" and a swarm of long-legged policemen, who forced

as spent in visiting su

as were wo

ins. I shan't be at all sorry this evening to get back to Ronleigh. It's all in the paper this morning; it mentions the foot

y evening, and accordingly, about seven o'clock, the Triple Alliance found themselves once more on their way

he exclaimed; "didn'

over there by t

common-place remarks the party relapsed into silence. At Chatton, the station before Ronleigh, a man who had so far travelled with them got

out that old chap's house

of his voice caused the three listeners to exp

ry, with a well-assum

'll catch the t

especially if they find the chap who

eaker meant mischief. The three friends looked at one another in horrified amazement

ntly well pleased with the effect which his r

ket a buck-handled clasp-knife: "I wonder if that

that had been rescued from Mugford's sale at The Birches; in fact,

he first to f

n? We didn't st

an opening there happens to be in the shrubs, and saw you fellows climbing out of the old chap's window;

mine," said Mugford,

ty to his own pocket. "In this case finding's keeping; besides, I'm not

cken speed as it appro

fit of desperation, "what are you going to

, rounding on Jack with a sudden snarl, "you were good enough some little time ago to make some very caddish remarks about my father; in the future you'd better keep your mouth

ng but a happy look on their faces. One after another they slowly gathered up their things and stepped out on to the platform. Hardly

I thought you'd come by this train. I say, there's a fine row on u