twirled around the knob of the combination. Twice he
tried the door and failed to open it, but the third effort was
successful. But before he could do more than glance into the strong
box, there was a noise in the hallway. Instantly he shut the door
again, dropped into his chair, and resumed his smoking.

"Women folks are a regular nuisance," was the policeman's comment, on
coming back. "Want you to do this and then that--keep you on the go
all the time. I'm tired of it."

"Take my advice, and don't marry," was the rejoinder, with a laugh.

"Too late--I've got a wife and five children already. But I've got to
go to the barn. Will you come along?"

"Why--er--I suppose so." The stranger hesitated. "I'll have to be
going pretty soon. Going to stay in this room all night?"

"No; I'm going to lock up and go upstairs."

"That's right; nothing like resting on a good bed. I don't think the
girl will try to run away,"

"She can't--we're watching her too closely."

The pair left the library. Scarcely had they gone when Adam Adams
opened one of the blinds, made a quick leap, and came inside.

"That fellow will bear watching, no matter who he claims to be," the
detective told himself. "But there is no use of following him now, for
he will be back sooner or later. He did not open this safe for
nothing."

With the policeman and the stranger gone, the lower portion of the
mansion appeared deserted. Adam Adams looked to make sure that he was
not observed, and then went to the safe. As he had anticipated, the
door now came open with ease.

The detective felt that he was in a ticklish position. Had he a right
to examine the contents of this strong box? If discovered by any one,
what would be the outcome? Even the fact that he was in a way
connected with the law might not clear him.

But he felt he must take some risks. He knew the sentiment against
Margaret Langmore, and knew that sentiment in a country place is almost
equal to a conviction. The coroner had convinced himself that the girl
was guilty, and would go to any extremity to prove the correctness of
his theory.

The safe was divided into several compartments, and on one side was a
set of three metallic drawers. The open side contained several account
books and legal and patent papers. The top drawer contained some old
jewelry and a gold watch, the middle drawer some bank bills, not over a
hundred dollars, all told.

The bottom drawer was