28 fred the Apprentice.

should have to remain hidden for a short time
until these persons left; but, aftera few minutes,
the precautions which he heard them taking, and
the half-whispers in which they were speaking,
alarmed him.

‘Have you shut the door quite close?’ said
one of the men.

‘Look into the closet to see if anybody is in
it,’ said another.

‘Why are they so fearful of being surprised ?’
thought Fred, with terror; and he was almost
frightened to breathe. He felt that it was not
chance which had brought all this about, but that
Providence, for some wise reason, had ordained
he should be on this spot at this moment. Never
before had he felt such anxiety.

When the new-comers thought themselves
secure from all interruption and discovery, one
of the party spoke, and, in a low but very distinct
voice, and also in tones that showed the import-
ance which the speaker attached to his words,
explained the plan he had devised.

This plan was nothing less than to force open,
during the middle of the night, the window of
the counting-house of Mr. Kartmann, and carry
off the cash-box. Fred discovered, from some