we're out of a job, and they do say the
store may never go on again."

Dick looked surprised, as though he were hearing news; for it was hardly
policy to let it be known that the failure of Archibald Graylock had
been discounted at the bank for several days.

He stood around talking for a short time, until he was nearly due at the
bank, and then hastened to his work.

If anything it seemed even more depressing there than on the street.

The atmosphere was so dense that lights were actually needed in the
bookkeeping department in order that business might go on unimpeded;
while the employees kept their heads bent down over their work, and not
one had a smile to spare.

Indeed, it seemed to Dick as if every one purposely avoided saying good
morning to him as usual, though the chances were his imagination
deceived him there.

The truth was every one felt a weight resting upon his shoulders.

A calamity had befallen the bank in the loss of the securities, and
until this mystery was made clear suspicion must attach to every man in
Mr. Gibbs' employ.

Already the president was in his room, a most unprecedented occurrence
at this early hour, and from time to time other gentlemen gathered
there, so that it was evident that to a limited extent the bank was
bound to feel the fall of the leading merchant of the town, having
doubtless granted Mr. Graylock favors from time to time.

Mr. Goodwyn dodged in and out, a look of deepest concern on his smooth
face, as if the cares of a great State rested upon him.

Who could be cheerful under such conditions?

Dick sometimes felt a lump rising in his throat as the thought of his
being positively accused of stealing the lost papers came before his
mind's eye; and it was with more or less difficulty that he carried on
his work.

Everybody was nervous, and surely he had cause to feel so.

To cap the climax there was a stranger in the bank, and at first sight
of him Dick felt a chilly sensation, the man looked so keenly at him;
for he really fancied that Mr. Gibbs had put his threat into execution,
and brought an officer of the law into consultation, in order to clear
up the mystery.

Presently, however, he noticed that the stranger was looking over the
books, and seemed to have free access to the safe, as though his
authority to do just as he pleased was unquestioned.

And when Dick also noticed how ungrudgingly the bookkeeper waited on
him, and was only too pleased to be c