arr, without asking permission, ran his hand over Vaniman's head. "No
especially big lump anywhere!"

Vaniman spanned a space on his head between thumb and forefinger. "I
feel a particular ache right about there, sir."

"Britt, get down that lamp!"

The president brought the lamp from the hanging bracket and held it
close to Vaniman's head while Starr carefully parted the hair and
inspected. "There's a red strip, but it's not much swollen," he
reported. "Of course, we know all about those rubber wallopers
that--But this is not a time for guesswork. Now, Vaniman, how about this
chloroform odor? Remember anything about an attempt to snuff you that
way?"

"No, sir!"

"Why don't you wait until to-morrow and let Frank's mind clear up?"
Vona pleaded. She had been standing with her arm about the young man's
shoulders, insisting on holding her position even when Starr crowded
close in making his survey of the cashier's cranium.

"Young woman, the first statements in any affair are the best statements
when there's a general, all-round desire to get to bottom facts," said
the examiner, sternly.

"That's my desire, sir," declared Vaniman, earnestly. "But I have told
you all I know."

President Britt had replaced the lamp in the bracket. He waited for a
moment while Starr regarded the cashier with uncompromising stare, as if
meditating a more determined onslaught in the way of the third degree.
Britt, restraining himself during the interview, had managed to steady
himself somewhat, but he was much perturbed. He ventured to put in a
word. "Mr. Starr, don't you think that Vona's idea is a good one--give
Frank a good night's rest? He may be able to tell us a whole lot more in
the morning."

Then the bank examiner delivered the crusher that he had been holding
in reserve. "Vaniman, you may be able to tell me in the morning, if not
now, how it happens that all your specie bags were filled with--not with
the gold coin that ought to have been there, but with"--Starr advanced
close to the cashier and shook a big finger--"mere metal disks!" He
shouted the last words.

Whether Starr perceived any proof of innocence in Vaniman's
expression--mouth opening, eyes wide, face white with the pallor of
threatened collapse--the bank examiner did not reveal by any expression
of his own.

"This is wicked--wicked!" gasped Vona.

"Young woman, step away!" Starr yanked her arm from Vaniman's shoulder
and pushed her to one side. "Did you k