ly.

"You still think him connected with the disappearance of the tin box, I
suppose."

"I do."

"The police are almost certain they are on the right track of the
criminal. I cannot give you the details, but the party is not Hardwick."

"The police don't know everything. Hardwick is thoroughly bad, and he is
in league with Dick Ferris and Mr. Allen."

"You speak very positively, Hal."

"Because I know what I am speaking about, sir."

"You say Hardwick is in with Dick Ferris?"

"Yes, sir."

"How do you know?"

"Because they formed a plot to have me arrested. But that is not the
worst of it. Hardwick made an attempt on my life because I followed
him."

"Is it possible?" Mr. Sumner was now thoroughly interested. "Why did you
not tell me of this before?"

"Because I wished to follow out the matter on my own hook, and, besides,
I am almost a stranger to you, and you might think I was making up a
yarn."

"No, Hal, I trust you thoroughly. I don't know why, but you have
something about you that seems perfectly honest."

"Thank you." The youth was blushing. "I will never deceive you, Mr.
Sumner, and you may depend on it."

"Tell me about this attempt on your life?" said the broker.

Standing by Mr. Sumner's desk, Hal related very nearly all that had
occurred since his first appearance at the office. The broker listened
with eager attention.

"You are right," he said, when Hal had concluded. "And apparently Ferris
is as bad a villain as Hardwick. But how do you account for Mr. Allen
being in with them?"

"On account of that conversation I overheard on the ferry-boat that
night. They may try to explain it away as they please, I am convinced
that they were talking of robbing your private safe."

"But Mr. Allen comes of very fine connections----" began the broker.

"That may be, but didn't you just say he didn't do just right?"

"So I did, and it is true. But that might be put down to a mere matter
of sharp business practice, legally right if not morally so. But this
other----"

And the elderly broker shook his head.

"If a man will cheat legally, I don't think he will stop at cheating any
other way," replied Hal. "He may for a while, but his conscience soon
gets blunted, and that's the end of it. You say the police think
somebody else is guilty?"

"Yes."

"Do they think the thief came through the window?"

"Yes."

"That the man who came in while I was here had nothing to do with it?"

"That i