He glanced around the room, wondering what he should do with the money, when he discovered that his uncle had left the key of the desk in the lock.

For want of a better place, Frank decided to put the gold in there.

Mr.Brown took it out of his saddle-bags, and packed it away in the drawer--six bags in all, each containing two thousand dollars, in bright, new "yellow-boys." Then, declining Frank's invitation to stay to dinner, the gentleman bade him good-by, mounted his horse, and resumed his journey.
"Twelve thousand dollars!" said Frank, to himself, as he locked the desk and put the key into his pocket.

"Why, that's a fortune! Now that I think of it, I almost wish Mr.Brown hadn't left it here.

What would Uncle James say if somebody should break into the house and steal it ?" As Frank asked himself this question, he turned suddenly, and saw Pierre standing on the porch, in front of one of the windows, watching him with eager eyes.