to commit the theft, sir?"

This was, of course, addressed to Mr. Sharpleigh.

"Yes."

"You will be willing to testify to this at the police office? You see,
this boy is my cousin. Mr. Fairchild is away, and I shall be blamed for
this terrible loss. Why, there were eighteen hundred dollars in the
parcel!"

"There were three parcels, and a roll of bills, Cousin David."

Mr. Mullins looked surprised.

"Then it was not all put in one parcel?" he said.

"No."

"That is strange. I--I don't know what to do. Mr. Fairchild has
telegraphed that he will be at home sometime during the day. Probably I
had better wait till he comes before notifying the police."

This he said in a questioning sort of way, as if asking Sharpleigh's
advice.

"That will give the thief a chance to escape," suggested the detective.

"True. Perhaps you will be kind enough to leave word at the nearest
police office. I only wish Mr. Fairchild were here."

"All right, sir," said the detective, "I will comply with your
request."

He left the office, but it is needless to say that he didn't go far
away.

"This is a very interesting comedy," he murmured, rubbing his hands, "a
very interesting comedy, and apparently played for my benefit."

"Now, Felix," said the bookkeeper, "tell me how it all came out. Did
the paying teller look suspicious when you presented the check?"

"No. He said he hadn't as much money in the drawer, and went to the
safe in the back part of the bank. He returned with three parcels of
bills in brown paper, and a hundred dollars loose."

"And then you put it in your pocket?"

"Yes, Cousin David; I did exactly as you told me. I put them in my
pocket and walked back in a leisurely way."

"Did you see anything of Ralston?"

"Yes, I saw him out of the corner of my eye, while I was looking in at
a window on Union Square."

"He took the money?"

"Yes. Now, Cousin David, give me the twenty-five dollars."

At that instant the door was opened suddenly, and Dick Ralston dashed
into the office, looking very much excited.

"Mullins," he said, "we've been sold--sold--regularly sold. Look at
this!" and he showed one of the brown packages partly torn open.

"Well," said the bookkeeper, "what's the matter?"

"Matter? Matter enough. Here's a package marked one thousand dollars,
and it contains only slips of green paper in place of bills. You can
see for yourself."

CHAPTER XXXI.

A DAY OF SURPRISES.

The bookk