r own up, Carson," he said, harshly.

"Let go of me!" retorted Hal, trying to break away.

"Not much! Do you think I am going to give you the chance to slide out
of the door?"

"I have nothing to own up to, and I don't intend to run away," panted
the youth.

He broke away, and placed himself beside Mr. Sumner, who looked at him
earnestly.

"I believe the boy speaks the truth," he said, firmly.

"You do?" cried Hardwick and Allen, in concert.

"I mean in so far as he says he is innocent," added the elderly broker,
hastily. "Of course, I believe he is mistaken in supposing that either
of you had anything to do with this robbery."

"Oh!" returned Mr. Allen.

"That's different," said Hardwick.

Both of them looked relieved.

"I wish he had watched this stranger."

"I wish that myself, Mr. Sumner," cried Hal. "If he stole the tin box,
then I am mostly responsible, although I supposed the man was some
business man around here, and was to be trusted."

"I don't understand one thing," said the elderly broker. "I am almost
sure I locked the safe when I went away yesterday afternoon."

"So you did," said Mr. Allen. "I saw you do it."

"Then, how could the stranger have opened it?"

"Didn't Carson know the combination?" asked Hardwick, who seemed
determined to convict Hal.

"I think not."

"Indeed I did not!" cried the youth. "I never worked a safe combination
in my life."

"I saw him watching you open the door yesterday morning," went on the
book-keeper. "Do you dare deny it?" he continued, turning to Hal.

"I certainly do deny it," retorted Hal. "I might have been looking that
way, but I did not watch him, and I do not know how it was done."

"You did not notice if the door was open after I was gone, did you?"
said Mr. Sumner, turning to the book-keeper.

"It was closed," replied Hardwick, promptly.

"You are certain?"

"Yes, sir. When I left Carson here alone I saw to it that both safes and
the main desks were closed."

"Why did you do that?" put in Mr. Allen, knowing well what the answer
would be.

"I saw no necessity for trusting Carson, who was totally unknown to us."

"That was right, Hardwick." Mr. Allen turned to his partner. "I believe,
Sumner, you took in Carson without recommendations."

"I admit I did, Allen, but his face----"

"Faces are very deceitful, very. It was poor business policy, Sumner. It
would never have happened while I was around."

"Well, I am the loser, not you,"