rd floor. His room did not show the taste Jim's
did--it was largely garnished with colored photographs of handsome
young women, and some of the most celebrated cricketers and boxers of
the day. His mantelpiece was covered with pipes and one or two
policemen's whistles. He was indulging in a pipe when Jim was
announced. He welcomed his friend cordially, asked him to be seated,
listened to his tale, and then sat silent, thinking very carefully over
the mystery.

"Well," said Jim, "why don't you speak? I have got to clear this thing
in a couple of days. My girl will have nothing to do with me until she
is cleared of this shame, so you see how things stand, Sampson. I have
got a bit of money put by, and I'll spend it clearing her if you think
you can help me."

"No, no, 'taint my line," said Sampson, "and, besides, I wouldn't take
your money, old chap; you are welcome to my advice, but I should only
rouse suspicion if I were to appear in the matter--still, we can talk
the thing well over. It seems to me the point is this, who was the
person who got to the till while Miss Reed's back was turned?"

"They swear that no one could get to it," replied Jim. "The till is,
of course, in the master's desk, and Alison was close to it--she
scarcely left that part of the shop--at any rate, only to move a foot
or two away, before the customer arrived whom she was to serve. She
served her customer, and went to ask Mr. Shaw for change. He told her
that the key was in the till, and that she might help herself. She
took the change out and then locked the till. Alison is anxious enough
to be cleared, you may be quite sure, but she can't see herself how it
was possible that anyone else could have got to the till from the
moment the five-pound note was put into it until she herself took
change out and then locked it."

"Yes, of course," said Sampson, "so she thinks. Now, one of three
things is plain. You'll forgive me if I speak right out quite plainly,
my boy?"

"Of course," answered Hardy, with a faint smile. "You were always
famous for telling your mind when you liked, Sampson."

"And for keeping it back when I liked," retorted Sampson. "I wouldn't
be much of a detective if I didn't do that--still, this is my view of
the case in a nutshell. One of three things must have happened--that
is, granted that Mr. Shaw did put the five-pound note into the till."

"Why, of course he did," said Jim, in surprise.

"We must gr