If only the box had
been left, the discovery might be deferred.
Then a bright idea occurred to him. He must
get the box out of his own possession, as its
discovery would compromise him. Why could
he not arrange to leave it somewhere on the
premises of his confederate?
He resolved upon the instant to carry out
the idea. He went up to his room, wrapped
the tin box in a paper, and walked round to
the house of the bookkeeper. The coast seemed
to be clear, as he supposed it would be. He
slipped into the yard, and swiftly entered an
outhouse. There was a large wooden chest,
or box, which had once been used to store
grain. Stark lifted the cover, dropped the
box inside, and then, with a feeling of relief,
walked out of the yard. But he had been
observed. Mrs. Gibbon chanced to be looking
out of a side window and saw him. She recognized
him as the stranger who had been in the habit
of spending recent evenings with her husband.
"What can he want here at this time?"
she asked herself.
She deliberated whether she should go to
the door and speak to Stark, but decided not
to do so.
"He will call at the door if he has anything
to say," she reflected.
Phil Stark walked on till he reached the factory.
He felt that he must see Julius Gibbon,
and satisfy himself as to the meaning of the
mysterious substitution of waste paper for bonds.
When he reached a point where he could see
into the office, he caught the eye of Leonard,
who was sitting at the window.
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