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