"She heard them at work with their tools, on the safe door, came softly down into this room, peeped at them through the crack behind the door there, and before they were aware of her vicinity, slammed it to and bolted and locked it on them." "Hurrah for little Miss Lu!" cried the men; one of them adding, "Dey mus' hab her fo' a kunnel in de nex' wah." "No, sah; higher'n dat; fo' brigandine gineral at de berry leas'!" said another.
Seeing no hope of escape, the prisoners had ceased their efforts and awaited their fate in sullen silence.
They did not know who had been their captor, and in telling the story of Lulu's exploit the captain purposely so lowered his tones that scarce a word reached their ears.
At this moment Max appeared at the door opening from the library into the front hall; only half dressed and asking in much excitement, what was the matter?
what was the meaning of the lights and the noises that had waked him?
His father explained in a few words, and as he finished a loud knocking at the front entrance told of the arrival of the sheriff and his posse.
They were promptly admitted, filed into the library and formed a semi-circle about the door of the strong room--each man with a revolver in his hand, cocked and ready for instant use.
The door was then unfastened and the burglars stepped out only to be immediately handcuffed and carried away to prison, sullenly submitting to their arrest because they saw that resistance was useless.
But before being taken from the house they were searched and the captain's watch found upon Ajax.

He had evidently visited the dressing-room of his late master to obtain the key to the strong room door, and appropriated the watch at the same time.
The lock of the safe was also examined and found but little injured.

The scoundrels had not succeeded in getting at the valuables there.
They had collected together some from other parts of the house and made them into bundles ready to carry away, but they were uninjured and had only to be restored to their places.
Max was greatly excited.

"Papa," he said, when the sheriff had departed with his prisoners, and doors and windows were again secured, "we have had a narrow escape from serious loss; perhaps worse than that; for who knows but those fellows meant to murder us in our beds ?" "I think not, my son," replied the captain.

"I presume their only object was plunder, and that if they had succeeded in rifling the safe without discovery, they would have gone quietly away with their booty.
"Had they desired to kill any of us, they would have been likely to attempt it when upstairs in search of the key to the strong room." "And it was Lu who spoiled their plans! Just think of it! I'd like to have had her chance.