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making up of the money package, and that Mr. Stephens talked freely before him, that they had gone out together, that Mr. Stephens had directed his clerk to walk down to the bank with him while he gave certain orders for the next day's business. Should he risk a bold question and so discover the truth in regard to the deposit, and perhaps at the same time discover to the thief its present whereabouts? He saw no other way, and feeling that he had little time to lose plunged into the question. "By the way, Mr. Stephens, was the deposit all right?" Mr. Stephens glanced up quickly. "What possessed you to ask that troublesome question?" he said, laughingly. "Natural curiosity, sir. Were you in time?" "I am almost afraid to answer you," said Mr. Stephens, still laughing, "lest you will put me under lock and key at once as a person suspected of insanity. If I must confess, though, I stopped with Winters ten minutes to introduce him to the new librarian at the reading-room, and thereby _just_ lost my chance at the bank." Theodore promptly controlled the shiver that ran through his frame. Winters, in the closet there, probably knew the facts, and all others connected with the money, as well as Mr. Stephens did. He spoke in his usual tone. "What did you do with the money, sir? It was not in the safe when I closed it for the night?" "That I suppose is the very wickedest of all my wicked deeds. I was too thoroughly tired, besides being too hurried, to tramp back to the store. I came near intrusting the bundle to Winters to take back, but I had respect for your ugly prejudices, and concluded to make a safe of my own house for one night." For an instant Theodore hesitated. Should he risk the possibility of giving the inmate of the closet the information which he did not already possess by asking what had been done with the money? His precaution was in vain. Mr. Stephens continued his confession: "I've locked it up though, _double_ locked it indeed, over in that iron box, and put the key belonging to the box on the shelf in that closet and locked _them_ up. Shall I bury that key in the cellar now?" Now indeed Theodore's face paled. _Could_ anything be more fearfully arranged? He asked but one more question: "Where _is_ the key now?" "_Here_ in my pocket; and I declare I'll deliver it over to you for safe keeping. I shall feel ten degrees less wicked." Theodore reached out his hand mechanically for the k
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