ocked up, the rolled-top desks
closed, and work was over for the day.

Hal spent the evening at his room in the boarding-house, writing to
Lawyer Gibson, his only friend in Fairham. The letter finished, he
walked to the corner and posted it, and then returned and went to bed.

The next morning he was the first at the office. He was engaged in
cleaning up when Hardwick entered. The book-keeper had been out the
greater part of the night, and his face plainly showed the effects of
his dissipation.

"Come, get at the books!" he growled. "The place is clean enough."

"I will just as soon as I have dusted the rear office," replied Hal.

"Do as I told you!" stormed Hardwick.

At that moment Mr. Sumner entered, and with a hasty good-morning passed
to the back. Hal heard him at his safe, and then came a sharp cry.

"The safe has been robbed!"

"What's that?" asked Hardwick, walking to the rear, while Hal followed.

"The safe has been robbed!" gasped Mr. Sumner. "There are seventy-nine
thousand dollars' worth of bonds missing."

"You are sure?" asked the book-keeper, while Hal's heart seemed to
fairly stop beating.

"Yes, they are gone."

"When did you leave them?"

"Yesterday before I went out with Mr. Allen." Mr. Sumner gave a groan.
"This will ruin me! Who could have robbed the safe?"

"Was it broken open?"

"No. Look for yourself."

Hardwick glanced toward the iron box. Then he turned and faced Hal.

"You were here alone yesterday afternoon," he said, sternly.

"Did you leave him here alone?" cried Mr. Sumner.

"I am sorry to say I did, but it was only for a few minutes," replied
the book-keeper. "I called around to Mack & Heath's for that Rock Island
circular."

Hal grew red in the face.

"Mr. Sumner," he began, "I hope you do not think----"

"I think that boy robbed the safe," interrupted Hardwick, pointing to
Hal. "I thought it was a mistake to take such a stranger into the
place."

At these words Hal's eyes flashed fire.

"That is a falsehood!" he cried, indignantly. "I never went near the
safe, excepting to dust the outside."

Mr. Sumner clasped and unclasped his hands nervously. The ring in the
youth's voice made him hesitate as to how to proceed.

"You robbed the safe," went on Hardwick. "You know you are guilty."

"I know no such thing," returned Hal, in a peculiar, strained tone of
voice. "But there is one thing I do know."

"And what is that?" asked Mr. Sumner, eagerly.

"I know