Nothing was said as they ascended the stairs.  There was danger of disturbing the household.

“Good night, Syd,” said Roy, when they reached the top.

He put out his hand, but Sydney did not see it in the darkness.

“Good night, Roy,” he responded.

Rex said nothing, but when Sydney’s door closed behind him, he drew Roy into his room with him.

“You must stay with me to-night, Roy, “he said, and he began taking off his coat.

“Why didn’t you speak to Syd before we came in, Reggie?”

“I couldn’t, Roy.  I feel awfully sorry for him.  But he’s committed a crime, and I can’t help but think all the while of Mr. Keeler’s brother.”

“It’s terrible—­ awful.”  Roy’s face was pale; he looked almost as Sydney had looked at one time.

“What are we going to do?” Rex sat down on the edge of the bed, a despairing droop to the shoulders that he usually carried so squarely.

“We must give up everything to the rightful heir.”

“But where shall we go then?  We’ve sold our house in Marley and spent the money we got for it.  We’ll be worse off than we were before, Roy.  Oh, dear, why did you ever look up at that trestle and see that old man crawl out on it?”

“I’ve wished I hadn’t before now,” replied Roy gravely.

“The money hasn’t made us happy as you expected it would, and now see what misery it has brought.  But I suppose it’s wrong for me to regret doing what I did.  And don’t think so hard of Syd, Reggie.  Remember that he did what he did, not for himself, but for us.”

“I’ll try my best, but I don’t feel now as if I could ever touch him again.  And think what he has brought us to!  Poverty, after just giving us the taste of wealth.”  The twins did not sleep much that night.

CHAPTER XXXII

 A hard day for the twins

Roy and Rex slept far into the morning, which was Saturday.  They were awakened finally by a persistent knocking on the door and Jess’s voice: 

“Are you boys going to sleep all day?  Have you forgotten we were all going to Marley at eleven o’clock?  And here’s a note Syd left for you, Rex.  He’s much better and gone to the office.  Get up now or we shan’t save breakfast”

“All right,” responded Roy, and he shook his brother and told him about Syd’s note.

“I wonder what it’s about,” murmured Rex.

Then he saw it on the carpet, where Jess had poked it under the door.  He snatched it up eagerly and read: 

“I am going to telegraph for Miles to come in and stay over Sunday.  He must be told while he is here.  He will get to the house in time for dinner.”

“I wonder if he expects me to tell him?” muttered Rex.  “Great Scott, it’ll be mighty queer to entertain a fellow in a house that really belongs to him!”

“And I wonder when mother and the girls are to be told,” added Roy.  “Do you suppose Syd could have told mother already?”