rcumstances.' 'Mr. Fellows,' she asked, 'can you read this morning's
telegram?' 'No,' I felt bound to reply. 'Then that acquits you. I can.'
And again she tried to urge me to go out. But I would not be urged. I
was staring across the room at the open safe and in fancy clutching its
contents. In fact, I made one step toward them. But she drew herself up
with such an air that I paused. She's a big girl, you know, and not to
be fooled with when she's angry. 'Come a step farther and I will scream
for the watchman,' she whispered. All our talk had been low, for there
were listening ears everywhere--we couldn't risk that, and I stepped
back. Immediately she saw her advantage, and added, 'If you do not think
better of it and leave the room, I'll scream.' For answer to this I said
that I----"

CHAPTER X

"_I have a scheme_"

"What?"

A yell answered him.

"Something hit me! Something hit me!"

"Yes, I hit you; and I'll hit you again if you don't go on."

Fellows shivered, attempted some puerile protest, balked, and
stammeringly obeyed his restless and irritated companion.

"I--I said--I wasn't such a fool then as I am now--that she had lied
when she told me that she had the combination. There was no combination.
The safe did not even have a lock. The door opened with a spring. How
had she induced that spring to give way? I demanded to know."

"And did she tell you?"

"No. She merely repeated, 'I will scream, and that will cause a scandal
which will lead to your discharge, not mine.' So--so, I came out."

"Blast your eyes! And when did _she_ come out?"

"Within five minutes. I watched the clock."

"And what did she have?"

"Nothing in sight."

"I see. A deep game. But I know a deeper. There is no possibility of
breaking into that safe by night, undetected by the watchman?"

"None; and that watchman is incorruptible. The whole contents of the
safe wouldn't move him to connect himself with this job."

"The job must be done by day and during office hours?"

"Yes."

"And cannot be done without the assistance of this girl?"

"You've heard."

"Very well; I have a scheme. Now listen to me."

Not even the rat which at that minute nibbled at Fellows's boot heel
could have heard what followed. The panting of two breasts was, however,
audible; and when, fifty minutes later, both crawled out of the cellar
window among the rubbish which littered the rear of this once holy
place, the one was trembling with