ox contain much that was of value?"

"I must caution you both against saying anything that will compromise
you," said one of the officers.

"I have nothing to conceal," went on Stark, brazenly. "I am obliged to
believe that this man committed the burglary. It is against me that I
have been his companion for the last week or two, but I used to know
him, and that will account for it."

The unhappy bookkeeper saw the coils closing around him.

"I hope you will see your way to release me," said Stark, addressing
himself to Mr. Jennings. "I have just received information that my poor
mother is lying dangerously sick in Cleveland, and I am anxious to start
for her bedside to-day."

"Why did you come round here this morning?" asked Mr. Jennings.

"To ask Mr. Gibbon to repay me ten dollars which he borrowed of me the
other day," returned Stark, glibly.

"You--liar!" exclaimed Gibbon, angrily.

"I am prepared for this man's abuse," said Stark. "I don't mind
admitting now that a few days since he invited me to join him in the
robbery of the safe. I threatened to inform you of his plan, and he
promised to give it up. I supposed he had done so, but it is clear to me
now that he carried out his infamous scheme."

Mr. Jennings looked amused. He admired Stark's brazen effrontery.

"What have you to say to this charge, Mr. Gibbon?" he asked.

"Only this, sir, that I was concerned in the burglary."

"He admits it!" said Stark, triumphantly.

"But this man forced me to it. He threatened to write you some
particulars of my past history which would probably have lost me my
position if I did not agree to join him in the conspiracy. I was weak,
and yielded. Now he is ready to betray me to save himself."

"Mr. Jennings," said Stark, coldly, "you will know what importance to
attach to the story of a self-confessed burglar. Gibbon, I hope you will
see the error of your ways, and restore to your worthy employer the box
of valuable property which you stole from his safe."

"This is insufferable!" cried the bookkeeper "You are a double-dyed
traitor, Phil Stark. You were not only my accomplice, but you instigated
the crime."

"You will find it hard to prove this," sneered Stark. "Mr. Jennings, I
demand my liberty. If you have any humanity you will not keep me from
the bedside of my dying mother." "I admire your audacity, Mr. Stark,"
observed the manufacturer, quietly. "Don't suppose for a moment that I
give the least credit to yo