l morning, perhaps there might not
have been. But in that one minute's grace a man had entered the office
who had not gone out again, and where could he be if not in that one
closed room?

The room which held the safe was open as usual, and many of Mr.
Fellows's glances traveled that way. He had entered it once only since
his first hurried visit of the early morning, but only to pull down the
shade over the glass in the door communicating with the outside hall.
This was his usual custom, and it attracted no attention. Why shouldn't
he enter it again? He thought he would. A fascination was upon him. The
problem he had given Beau Johnson to solve was to receive a test this
day which would make him a rich man or a felon; but before that hour why
not make his own study, his own investigation? True, he had made these
many times before, but not with such lights to guide him. He might
learn----

But no, the very conceit was folly. He knew his own limitations, else he
had not called in the services of this crook. He could learn nothing by
himself, but he might look the place over and see if all was in shape
for the great attempt. That was only his duty. Beau Johnson had a right
to expect that of him. If the scrub woman had moved anything----

At the thought that this possibly might have happened, he jumped to his
feet and hurried into the outer office; but when he turned toward the
room of the safe, he met Miss Lee's eye fixed upon him with such a keen,
inquiring look that he faltered in his determination, and went in
another direction instead. _She_ knew that he had no business in that
room, and she also knew that he knew she knew this. Any pretense that he
had would only rouse her suspicions, and these must be lulled to the
point of security, or she might not enter there herself, and on her
entering there everything depended. Almost immediately upon the thought
he was back in his seat, and the weary moments crept on. Would she never
make her accustomed visit to that room? No cablegram had come that
morning, but she would find some reason for going in. Of that he had
been assured by Johnson. Why, he had not been told. "She will go in,"
Beau Johnson had said, and Fellows believed him. He believed everything
the other said, otherwise he could not have gone on with this business.
But she was very long about it. Harlowe would be coming back----

CHAPTER XII

"_A block of steel_"

Ah, he had an idea! It was not his o