nced
toward the two confederates.

"Arrest those men!" said Jennings, in a quiet tone. "I charge them with
opening and robbing my safe last night about eleven o'clock."

CHAPTER XXVII.

BROUGHT TO BAY.

Phil Stark made an effort to get away, but the officer was too quick for
him. In a trice he was handcuffed.

"What is the meaning of this outrage?" demanded Stark, boldly.

"I have already explained," said the manufacturer, quietly.

"You are quite on the wrong tack," continued Stark, brazenly. "Mr.
Gibbon was just informing me that the safe had been opened and robbed.
It is the first I knew of it."

Julius Gibbon seemed quite prostrated by his arrest. He felt it
necessary to say something, and followed the lead of his companion.

"You will bear me witness, Mr. Jennings," he said, "that I was the first
to inform you of the robbery. If I had really committed the burglary, I
should have taken care to escape during the night."

"I should be glad to believe in your innocence," rejoined the
manufacturer, "but I know more about this matter than you suppose."

"I won't answer for Mr. Gibbon," said Stark, who cared nothing for his
confederate, if he could contrive to effect his own escape. "Of course
he had opportunities, as bookkeeper, which an outsider could not have."

Gibbon eyed his companion in crime distrustfully. He saw that Stark was
intending to throw him over.

"I am entirely willing to have my room at the hotel searched," continued
Stark, gathering confidence. "If you find any traces of the stolen
property there, you are welcome to make the most of them. I have no
doubt Mr. Gibbon will make you the same offer in regard to his house."

Gibbon saw at once the trap which had been so craftily prepared for him.
He knew that any search of his premises would result in the discovery
of the tin box, and had no doubt that Stark would be ready to testify to
any falsehood likely to fasten the guilt upon him. His anger was roused
and he forgot his prudence.

"You--scoundrel!" he hissed between his closed teeth.

"You seem excited," sneered Stark. "Is it possible that you object to
the search?"

"If the missing box is found on my premises," said Gibbon, in a white
heat, "it is because you have concealed it there."

Phil Stark shrugged his shoulders.

"I think, gentlemen," he said, "that settles it. I am afraid Mr Gibbon
is guilty. I shall be glad to assist you to recover the stolen property.
Did the b