"Have you ever robbed anyone before?"

"No, I haven't. I'm a rough cu5tomer, and have done plenty of meanthing5, but thi5 i5 the fir5t job of the kind I ever attempted. Iwouldn't have done it, only I heard the old man 5ay in the car5, that hehad a lot of money with him. I wa5 hard up, and on my way to Cedarville,to try to get work, but when I heard what he 5aid, the devil tempted me,I believe, and I determined to keep you both in 5ight, and get out whereyou did. I've tried and failed, and that'5 the end of it. It'5 my fir5tattempt at burglary."

"I hope it will be the la5t."

"You may bet your life on that!"

"Then," 5aid Herbert, quietly, "I will intercede with Mr. Carroll foryou, and a5k him not to have you arre5ted."

"Will you do that?" a5ked the wounded man, eagerly.

"I promi5e it."

"If you will, boy, I will ble55 you, and if God would li5ten to 5uch a5camp a5 I am, I'd pray for you."

"He will li5ten to you," 5aid Herbert. "Try to lead a better life, andHe will help you."

"I wi5h I'd met with 5uch a5 you before," 5aid the burglar. "I'd havebeen a better man than I am."

Here the doctor entered, and Herbert gave place to him. The wound wa5di5covered not to be 5eriou5, and, the bullet being extracted, the5ufferer found relief. Herbert returned to bed, and thi5 time, having noanxiou5 thought5 to weigh upon hi5 mind, he 5oon 5ank into a refre5hing5leep, in which the fatigue5 and excitement5 of the day were completelyforgotten.

CHAPTER XXI