“Now they are at the safe,” thought Carl.
We, who are privileged, will enter the office and watch the proceedings.
Gibbon had no difficulty in opening the safe, for he was acquainted with the combination. Stark thrust in his hand eagerly and drew out the box.
“This is what we want,” he said, in a tone of satisfaction. “Have you a key that will open it?”
“No.”
“Then I shall have to take box and all.”
“Let us get through as soon as possible,” said Gibbon, uneasily.
“You can close the safe, if you want to. There is nothing else worth taking?”
“No.”
“Then we will evacuate the premises. Is there an old newspaper I can use to wrap up the box in? It might look suspicious if anyone should see it in our possession.”
“Yes, here is one.”
He handed a copy of a weekly paper to Phil Stark, who skillfully wrapped up the box, and placing it under his arm, went out of the office, leaving Gibbon to follow.
“Where will you carry it?” asked Gibbon.
“Somewhere out of sight where I can safely open it. I should have preferred to take the bonds, and leave the box in the safe. Then the bonds might not have been missed for a week or more.”
“That would have been better.”
That was the last that Carl heard. The two disappeared in the darkness, and Carl, raising himself from his place of concealment, stretched his cramped limbs and made the best of his way home. He thought no one would be up, but Mr. Jennings came out from the sitting-room, where he had flung himself on a lounge, and met Carl in the hall.
“Well?” he said.
“The safe has been robbed.”
“Who did it?” asked the manufacturer, quickly.
“The two we suspected.”
“Did you see Mr. Gibbon, then?”
“Yes; he was accompanied by Mr. Stark.”
“You saw them enter the factory?”
“Yes, sir; I was crouching behind the stone wall on the other side of the road.”
“How long were they inside?”
“Not over fifteen minutes–perhaps only ten.”
“Mr. Gibbon knew the combination,” said Jennings, quietly. “There was no occasion to lose time in breaking open the safe. There is some advantage in having a friend inside. Did you see them go out?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Carrying the tin box with them?”
“Yes, sir. Mr. Stark wrapped it in a newspaper after they got outside.”
“But you saw the tin box?”
“Yes.”
“Then, if necessary, you can testify to it. I thought it possible that Mr. Gibbon might have a key to open it.”
“I overheard Stark regretting that he could not open it so as to abstract the bonds and leave the box in the safe. In that case, he said, it might be some time before the robbery was discovered.”
“He will himself make an unpleasant discovery when he opens the box. I don’t think there is any call to pity him, do you, Carl?”
“No, sir. I should like to be within sight when he opens it.”
The manufacturer laughed quietly.
“Yes,” he said; “if I could see it I should feel repaid for the loss of the box. Let it be a lesson for you, my boy. Those who seek to enrich themselves by unlawful means are likely in the end to meet with disappointment.”
“Do you think I need the lesson?” asked Carl, smiling.
“No, my lad. I am sure you don’t. But you do need a good night’s rest. Let us go to bed at once, and get what sleep we may. I won’t allow the burglary to keep me awake.”
He laughed in high good humor, and Carl went up to his comfortable room, where he soon lost all remembrance of the exciting scene of which he had been a witness.
Mr. Jennings went to the factory at the usual time the next morning.
As he entered the office the bookkeeper approached him pale and excited.
“Mr. Jennings,” he said, hurriedly, “I have bad news for you.”
“What is it, Mr. Gibbon?”
“When I opened the safe this morning, I discovered that the tin box had been stolen.”
Mr. Jennings took the news quietly.