CHAPTER XXI.
THE TRAP IS SET.
Uncle John was forced to acknowledge to his nieces that his boast to unmask Bob West within three days was mere blustering.

If he accomplished anything in three weeks he would consider himself fortunate.

But he had no wish to conceal anything from the girls, so he told them frankly of his interview with the hardware merchant, and also what Joe Wegg had said about the stock in the locked cupboard.

They were, of course, greatly interested in this new phase of the matter and canvassed it long and eagerly.
"The man is lying, of course," said Patsy, "for Captain Wegg and poor Mr.Thompson could not transfer their stock to West after that fatal night when he brought to them the news of the fire." "I believe the stock is still in this cupboard," declared Uncle John.
"Unless West stole the keys and has taken it away," suggested Louise.
"I'm sure he did not know about the secret drawer," said her uncle.
"Probably he stole the keys and searched the cupboard; if he had found the stock he would have left the keys, which would then be of no further use to him.

As he did not find the stock certificates, he carried the keys away, that he might search again at his leisure.