office in our search, or we might have cornered him. Do you happen to
remember whether or not you closed the safe after you took out the
money, and would you mind telling me why you needed a hundred dollars in
such a hurry that you couldn't wait until the bank opened?"

The troubled line on Radnor's brow deepened.

"I think I closed the safe," he said, "but I don't remember. It's barely
possible that I didn't lock it; you know we haven't always kept it
locked, especially when there wasn't money in it.--It never occurred to
me that anyone would steal the bonds. I can't imagine what it means."

"You haven't answered my question.--Why did you need a hundred dollars
in cash after ten o'clock last night?"

"I am sorry, father, but I can't answer that question. It's a private
matter."

"Indeed! You are sure that you did not take the bonds as well and have
forgotten it?"

"I took one hundred dollars in bills and nothing else. I took that
merely because it was my only way of cashing a check. I have frequently
cashed my private checks, when we had a surplus on hand and I didn't
want the bother of going in to the bank. So long as I balance the books
all right, I see no reason why I should not do so."

"H'm!" said the Colonel. "Two days ago you came to me and wanted two
months' pay in advance because you had overdrawn your bank account, and
I refused to give it to you. Where, may I ask, were you intending to get
the hundred dollars to pay back this amount?"

A quick flush spread over Radnor's face.

"I already had it--Arnold will tell you that, for I borrowed it of him."

"Certainly," I put in pacifically--"that's all settled between Rad and
me. I have his note and was glad to accommodate him."

"Don't you get enough from me, that you must ask the guests in my house
to supply you with money?"

Radnor's flush deepened but he said nothing. I could see by his eyes
however that he would not stand much more.

"Then after you had helped yourself to the money, the bonds were stolen
by someone else?" said the Colonel.

"So it appears," said Radnor.

"And have you any theory as to the identity of the thief?"

Rad hesitated a visible instant before replying. The flush left his face
and the pallor came back, but in the end he raised his eyes and answered
steadily.

"No, father, I have not. I am as much mystified as you are."

"And you heard nothing in the night? As I said before, you are an
excellent sleeper!"

Rad