‘or, The Silver Skates 49

«© And what did you ask of good St. Nicholas, mother ?”

“« Why, never to give the thieves a wink of sleep till they
brought it back, to be sure, if he’s power to do such things ;
or else to brighten our wits that we might find it ourselves.
Not a sight have I had of it since the day before the dear
father was hurt, as you well know, Hans.”

«“ That I do, mother,” he answered sadly, “though you
have almost pulled down the cottage in searching.”
moaned the dame. ‘“* Hiders

>

“© Ay; but it was of no use,’
make best finders.’ ”

Hans started. ‘Do you think the father could tell
aught ?”? he asked mysteriously.

“ Ay, indeed,” said Dame Brinker, nodding her head. “1
think so; but that is no sign. I never hold the same belief in
the matter two days. Mayhap the father paid it off for the
great silver watch we have been guarding since that day.
But, no, I’ll never believe it.”

“The watch was not worth a quarter of the money,
mother.”

“No, indeed! And your father was a shrewd man up to
the last moment. He was too steady and thrifty for silly
doings.”

“ Where did the watch come from, I wonder,” muttered
Hans, half to himself.

Dame Brinker shook her head, and looked sadly toward her
husband, who sat staring blankly at the floor. Gretel stood
near him, knitting. =~

“ That we shall never know, Hans. I have shown it to the
father many a time; but he does not know it from a potato.
When he came in that dreadful night to supper, he handed the
watch to me, and told me to take good care of it until he

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