e and wearing a
well-barbered beard. He was walking toward the bank.

The stranger ascended the steps where Evan stood and spoke in a tenor
voice:

"Are you Mr. Nelson?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm Inspector Castle."

CHAPTER XI.

_JOYS OF BANKING._

The Banfield teller shivered an instant, but, on sudden thought, braced
himself and began to say:

"You came in answer to my--"

"I came to inspect the branch," said Castle, quickly, looking Evan in
the eye as he pushed past him into the office.

The teller's hopes fell. He thought the inspector was going to take
him aside and ask him all the particulars of his loss. He would have
had to tell them--and he wanted to. It flashed across his mind that
had Castle come in answer to his (Evan's) letter, it would have been
sooner. Why had the inspector allowed two weeks to elapse?

"Where is Mr. Penton?" asked Mr. Castle, when a light had been turned
on in the office.

"He's giving a party to-night, sir," said Nelson.

"Is that so? Well, we won't interrupt it. You might just ask him to
come out for a moment and open up. Where is the rest of the staff?"

"They are in there, too."

"Good; we can set right to work."

Evan took Penton aside and whispered the news. The manager paled
slightly and his colorless eyes looked queer; but a flush suddenly
overspread his face, and he said:

"Couldn't have come at a better time. We're entertaining the best
customers in town."

He greeted Castle with an affectation of great friendliness. It was
well done. Penton surely was an artist at deception.

The inspector spoke blandly to him, and politely refused to interrupt
Mrs. Penton's party.

"Just you open up for us, Mr. Penton," he said, "and go back to
your--customers! The staff and myself will get the work started."

Evan was watching not the inspector but the manager. Penton's eyes
moved uneasily in their sockets, and he protested:

"Oh, no, they won't miss me. I'll jump right in with you."

Castle was delving in his bag.

"Well," he said, "I suppose you know them best; but I don't want to
interfere with--business."

Penton laughed, relieved, at the remark, and hurried into his
apartments to excuse himself. The party folk were awed by mention of
the inspector, and their interest gave Penton an idea: he would
introduce Castle to them. The inspector thought the suggestion a good
one. Penton whispered him hints about the men whom he would present,
s