“Good afternoon, Mr. Hammond,” called Eleanor, as she opened the door and walked serenely in, followed by Grace.

Henry Hammond started nervously up from his desk at the sound of her voice.  The bland smile with which he greeted her changed to a frown as his eyes rested upon Grace, and he saluted her coldly.

“I am, indeed, honored, this afternoon,” he said with sarcasm.  “Miss Harlowe has never before visited my office.”

“We had a few minutes to spare and thought we’d run in and tell you the news,” replied Grace sweetly.  “We have just come from the police station.”

“Rather a peculiar place for two High School girls to visit, isn’t it!” asked the man with a suspicion of a sneer.

“Yes, but we were the heroines in an adventure last night,” replied Grace evenly.  “We found the bazaar money that was stolen last Thanksgiving.”

“What!” exploded Hammond.  Then trying to conceal his agitation, he said with affected carelessness, “I believe I do remember something about that robbery.”

“I was sure that you would,” returned Grace, looking squarely at him.  “That was the night of the day you came to Oakdale, was it not?”

“I really can’t recollect the exact date,” murmured Hammond.

“One of the thieves was caught to-day, at the old haunted house, where he had hidden the box,” volunteered Eleanor.

A grayish pallor overspread Hammond’s face.  With a desperate effort at self-control, he said: 

“Ah, there was more than one, then!”

“Oh, yes,” declared Grace cheerfully.  “There were two in it.  The other will probably be apprehended soon.  The prisoner hasn’t revealed his identity, as yet.  The funny thing is that I had seen the prisoner before.  On the train that we took from New York, after seeing Anne Pierson in the play, I saw this same man try to steal a watch and chain from an old gentleman, who would not believe me when I warned him of his danger.”

“When we finally reached Oakdale,” continued Grace, “I watched to see if he got off the train, and he did.  We saw a man meet him at the station, who—­”

Henry Hammond sprang up and seizing his hat, said harshly, “I hope you young ladies will excuse me, what you have told me is so interesting that I believe I shall go over to the station house and get all the details.  Will you remain until I return?” He fumbled in a drawer of his desk, and both girls saw him take out a bankbook.

“Thank you,” said Grace politely.  “We can’t stay, but before we go we should like to have you write us a check for the five hundred dollars that Marian Barber foolishly loaned you.  You see she had no right to do so.  Besides, she is still a minor.  If you do it at once we can cash it to-day.  It is now fifteen minutes of three.  I’ll call the bank and tell them that I am coming.  But first I must send a message to my father.”