“What’s the matter, Ed?” he called quickly.  “Are you hurt?”

“No,” was the answer, and the voice was strained.

“But something has happened,” insisted Cora as she alighted from her car and started up the steps of the police station.

“Yes,” he said, and his voice trembled, “something has happened.”

“What?” asked Jack.

“I’ve lost twenty thousand dollars—­or—­else it has been stolen!”

“Twenty thousand dollars!” cried Jack.  “The money you were taking to the bank?”

Ed nodded.

“Where?” was Jack’s next question.

“That’s what I don’t know.  If I did I’d go get it.”

“But if it was stolen—­” began Cora.

“The thief is far enough away from here now,” finished Ed, trying to smile.  “However, I think I lost it near where the collision took place.  I just came from there to report the matter to the police.”

“But how could you lose it?” asked Cora, taking off her heavy driving gloves and fanning her face with them.

“I don’t know, unless when I leaned over to fix the mud guard of your auto the wallet may have slipped from my pocket.  But I’ve looked every inch about that spot,” and then Ed related how he had come to miss the money and securities.

“Oh, we must go back and help you look!” exclaimed Cora quickly.  “Of course we will, won’t we, Jack—­Walter?”

“Sure,” replied her brother, and Walter gravely nodded.  He was trying to recall every incident of the happenings after the collision.

“We’ll go right away,” went on Cora.  “Crank up, Walter.  Few persons go over that road in the afternoon, and maybe we can find it.”

“Oh, I assure you that it’s useless,” declared Ed.  “I am only waiting here to report the matter to Chief Jenkins, and then I’m going to telephone the officials at the bank in New City, as I promised I would.”

“Can’t you stop payment?” asked Jack.

“Not on the money, and not very easily on the negotiable securities.  That’s the unfortunate part of it.  If it had been a check I could.”

“Queer, I almost had a premonition that something might happen to that twenty thousand,” said Jack slowly.  “Though I suppose if I say that it makes it look bad for me,” he added with a smile.

“Oh, no,” Ed answered, seriously enough.  “Of course not.”

“Come on; let’s hurry back,” suggested Cora.  She re-entered the car, which shook from the running of the ungeared motor that Walter had started for her.

“Really, Cora,” began Ed, “it is useless for you to take the trouble to go back and hunt for it, though I’m sure it’s very kind—­”

“It’s no trouble at all.”

“But have you been home to dinner?” asked Ed.

“No.  Walter and I stopped at a little wayside restaurant and had lunch.  Come on, we’ll hurry back to the place where the collision took place.  I’m sure we’ll find the wallet.  I’m very lucky that way.”