Tony felt the difficulties of the position. Not only would the gold be taken, but as soon as Rudolph discovered him, as he would, he too would fall into the power of the tramp.
Old Ben had not yet discovered the sinister face at the window. He was too busily occupied with his pleasant employment of counting over his gold for the hundredth time, it might be, to be aware of the dangerous witness at the window.
But he was speedily aroused by the noise of the window being raised from the outside.
Then he turned with a startled look which quickly deepened into astonishment and dismay as he caught the lowering look fixed upon him. There was more than this. There was recognition besides.
"You here?" he gasped, mechanically gathering up the gold in his trembling fingers, with the intention of replacing it in the bag.
"Yes, Ben, it's me," answered the tramp, with a sneer. "May I come in?"
"No, no!" ejaculated the old man, hastily.
"I think I must," returned the tramp, in the same mocking tone. "I came to see you as an old friend, but I never dreamed you were so rich. That's a pretty lot of gold you have there."
"Rich!" repeated Ben, with his usual whine. "I'm very poor."
"It's only a few dollars--enough to bury me."
"Very well, Ben, I'll take charge of it, and when you need burial I'll attend to it. That's fair, isn't it?"
Rudolph, who had paused outside, now raised the window to its full height, and despite the old man's terrified exclamations, bounded lightly into the room.
"Help! help! thieves!" screamed Ben, almost beside himself with terror, as he spread his feeble hands over the gold which he had so imprudently exposed.
"Hold your jaw, you driveling old idiot," said Rudolph, harshly, "or I'll give you something to yell about."
"Help, Tony, help!" continued the old man.
The tramp's eyes, following the direction of Ben's, discovered our hero on his rude bed in the corner of the room. A quick gleam of exultation shot from them as he made this discovery.
"Ho, ho!" he laughed with a mirth that boded ill to Tony, "so I've found you at last, have I? You served me a nice trick the other day, didn't you? I owe you something for that."
"I hoped I should never set eyes on you again," said Tony.