have opened it, and if they were ordinary
fellows that they would have taken something else of value?"

"Hal, you ought to be a detective!" cried the broker, in admiration of
the body's logical reasoning.

"I tell you that robbery was committed by somebody who knew all about
your private affairs, and was here to obtain the combination of your
safe, and _that_ somebody was either Hardwick, Mr. Allen, Ferris, or
else the three of them."

CHAPTER XV.

HAL DEFENDS A GIRL.

Hal Carson's face glowed with earnestness as he spoke.

It was easy to see that he was fully convinced of the truth of what he
had just said.

"It would seem as if you must be right," replied Mr. Sumner, after
rather a long pause.

"You may depend on it I am, sir."

"But to think that of Allen!"

"Many a man in a high position has fallen before now. Did you ever
inquire into his financial standing--that is, outside of your business
relationships?"

"No."

"Then he may not be as well fixed as you think. Could he use the bonds,
if he had them?"

"Yes. They were not registered, and there are several ways in which they
might have been worked off."

"You are to dissolve partnership on New Year's Day, I believe?"

"Yes. I am not satisfied with the way matters are running, and I intend
to run the place alone as I used to."

"Perhaps the dissolution may bring other matters to light, sir."

"Ha! I never thought of that."

"That is, if Mr. Allen doesn't wipe them out in the meantime."

Mr. Sumner jumped to his feet, and began to walk up and down nervously.

"I understand what you are driving at, Hal," he cried. "Where do you get
such keen wit? I never saw your equal in a boy."

"I don't know, sir, unless it may be because I take such a strong
personal interest in the matter--a thing that most detectives do not."

"It must be that I must have the books investigated by an expert; I am
too old to go over them myself and do the work as it ought to be done."

"I think that would be best, but I would not let Mr. Allen know of it."

"I will not."

"Not even if you find he has been robbing you."

"What!"

"No."

"But he ought to be arrested----"

"Not until you have your bonds back, Mr. Sumner."

"I see."

"If you arrest him that won't bring your bonds back. I have a plan to
propose, if you will let me carry it out."

"What is it?"

"That while I nominally remain here as clerk and office-boy you allow me
to watch him, a