It was too late in the year for that--but the opening in the roof was there, and the ladder remained there, too.
Yes, it was simple enough now.

And the next morning the papers would rave with execrations against the Gray Seal--for the robbery of the life savings of a poor, defenseless old man, for committing as vile and pitiful a crime as had ever stirred New York! Even Carruthers, of the MORNING NEWS-ARGUS, would be moved to bitter attack.

Good old Carruthers--who little thought that the Gray Seal was his old college pal, his present most intimate friend, Jimmie Dale! And afterward--after the next morning?
Well, that, at least, had never been in doubt.

Old Luddy could be made to leave New York, and, once away, with the Skeeter and his gang robbed of incentive to pay any further attention to him, the stones could be secretly returned to the old man.

And it would to the public, to the police, be just another of the Gray Seal's crimes--that was all! Jimmie Dale had reached old Luddy's door.