“I don’t care for any such excitement,” said Gibbon, dispiritedly.  “Why couldn’t you have kept away and let me earn an honest living?”

“Because I must live as well as you, my dear friend.  When this little affair is over, you will thank me for helping you to a good thing.”

Of course all this conversation did not take place within Carl’s hearing.  While it was going on, the men had opened the office door and entered.  Then, as Carl watched the window closely he saw a narrow gleam of light from a dark lantern illuminating the interior.

“Now they are at the safe,” thought Carl.

We, who are privileged, will enter the office and watch the proceedings.

Gibbon had no difficulty in opening the safe, for he was acquainted with the combination.  Stark thrust in his hand eagerly and drew out the box.

“This is what we want,” he said, in a tone of satisfaction.  “Have you a key that will open it?”

“No.”

“Then I shall have to take box and all.”

“Let us get through as soon as possible,” said Gibbon, uneasily.

“You can close the safe, if you want to.  There is nothing else worth taking?”

“No.”

“Then we will evacuate the premises.  Is there an old newspaper I can use to wrap up the box in?  It might look suspicious if anyone should see it in our possession.”

“Yes, here is one.”

He handed a copy of a weekly paper to Phil Stark, who skillfully wrapped up the box, and placing it under his arm, went out of the office, leaving Gibbon to follow.

“Where will you carry it?” asked Gibbon.

“Somewhere out of sight where I can safely open it.  I should have preferred to take the bonds, and leave the box in the safe.  Then the bonds might not have been missed for a week or more.”

“That would have been better.”

That was the last that Carl heard.  The two disappeared in the darkness, and Carl, raising himself from his place of concealment, stretched his cramped limbs and made the best of his way home.  He thought no one would be up, but Mr. Jennings came out from the sitting-room, where he had flung himself on a lounge, and met Carl in the hall.

“Well?” he said.

“The safe has been robbed.”

“Who did it?” asked the manufacturer, quickly.

“The two we suspected.”

“Did you see Mr. Gibbon, then?”

“Yes; he was accompanied by Mr. Stark.”

“You saw them enter the factory?”

“Yes, sir; I was crouching behind the stone wall on the other side of the road.”

“How long were they inside?”

“Not over fifteen minutes—­perhaps only ten.”

“Mr. Gibbon knew the combination,” said Jennings, quietly.  “There was no occasion to lose time in breaking open the safe.  There is some advantage in having a friend inside.  Did you see them go out?”

“Yes, sir.”