“During the past four or five days, have you noticed anything unusual around this office?” went on Dick.

“Phat are ye after mainin’?”

“I’ll tell you.  There has been a robbery here, and we want to get at the bottom of it.”

“I haven’t touched a thing, sur, an’ nather have me family!” cried the janitor, quickly.

“You look like an honest man, and I can’t say that I suspect you,” continued Dick, for he saw that the old janitor was evidently much hurt.  “I want you to help me all you can, that is all.”

“Sure, sur, an’ I’ll be after doin’ that, Mr. Rover.  Phat did they be after takin’?”

“This safe, here, has been looted, and a small box that contained sixty-four thousand dollars’ worth of bonds is gone.”

At this announcement the old janitor threw up both hands and faltered back a step or two.

“Sixty-four thousand, dollars, did you be after sayin’?” he gasped, thinking be had not heard aright.

“That is what I said.  Now then, just put on your, thinking cap, and see if you can remember anything unusual that happened around here two or three days ago.”

“Two or three days ago.  Let me see,” mused the janitor, scratching his head.  “I don’t remember anything—­ Oh, yes, I do!” he burst out.

“What was that?” queried all three of the Rovers, while the office boy looked on with mouth wide open.

“‘Twas one avenin’ about siven or eight

o’clock.  Me an’ me family were up stairs, clanin’ out an office that has just been rinted.  Kittie, me gurrel, wint down stairs for some extra dustin’ rags.  Whin she came back, she said she saw a man a-walkin’ through the hallway outside.  She said that as soon as he saw her, he didn’t wait for the illevator, but went down the stairs in a big hurry.”

“Did she know the man?”

“She did not.  At least, she said she didn’t recognize him, for, you see, there was only one little light burnin’ in the hallway, because nearly all the tinnents had gone home.  The illevator wouldn’t have been runnin’, only we was goin’ to take up the stuff to the office we was cleanin’ on the fifth floor.”

“Your daughter saw that man in the hallway?” questioned Tom.  “Did he seem to come from these offices?”

“No, I axed her particular, and she said he seemed to be comin’ from the back av the hall.”

“What is back there?” asked Sam.

“A winder wid a fire escape outside,” answered the janitor.  “Likewise, I’ve a sink closet there, where I keep me brooms and me brushes and such.”

“And you have no idea who the man was?” questioned Dick.

“No, sur.  I axed Kitty how he looked, but she said she hadn’t seen his face—­ that he turned away from her and went down the stairs as fast as he could.”

“More than likely that was the thief!” exclaimed Tom.  “The question is:  Who is he and where did he go?”