ooked at him in admiration, an indulgent smile on his lips.

"Nonsense, my dear sir!" he exclaimed, dryly; "Alan did not take the
money--neither did you. Cass took it, and you wasted a day of the bank's
time covering the crime for him."

"Cass took it?" asked Mortimer in a dazed way, looking from Crane to
Allis.

"Yes; he has confessed, so you see he's ahead of you in that line"
He went on, speaking hurriedly: "I ask you to forgive me now for my
suspicions. Your innocence is completely established. You acted like a
hero in trying to shield Alan Porter, and I like men of that stamp. The
thousand dollars you paid in will be restored to you; it is yours. We
will devise some scheme for clearing up the matter as far as your good
name is concerned that will shield poor Cass from people who have no
business in this affair."

"But how did Cass manage to get the note?"

"Found it on the floor of the vault, he says."

"I don't see how it could have fallen out of the box, because the three
bills were pinned to the note."

Crane drew forth a pocket book, and opening it took out the bill that
had been stolen. He examined it closely, holding it up in front of the
window.

"I think you are mistaken," he said, "there are no pin holes in this
bill; I see," he continued, "the pin had not gone through this one;
being detached, in handling the box, it has slipped out."

"It must have," concurred Mortimer. "I remember in putting the box in
the compartment once I had to turn it on its edge; the bill being loose,
as you say, has slipped to the floor, and as the vault was dark I did
not notice it."

"It doesn't matter," added Crane. "I must go now. Good-bye, Miss Allis."

Turning to Mortimer he held out his hand.

"Good-bye, and long happiness to you both," he said; "I trust you will
think kindly of me and poor Cass. I am sure we are sorry for what has
been done."

As Crane went down the stairs he wondered why he had coupled himself
with Cass. Was the difference so slight--had they been together in the
same boat up to the point of that silly, fantastic dream. Perhaps they
had.

XLVI

With the going of Crane an awkward restraint came over the two who were
left; the man who had suffered so much for the woman's sake, and the
girl who had endeavored so much.

He was like a man suddenly thrust into a new world of freedom; he
indulged in a physical manifestation of its exhilaration, drinking in
a long, deep draught of t