"I don't know; he didn't say anything, but he had his overcoat on his arm." "Has Mr. Faxon been in?" "No; only Mr. Whippleton. What's the matter, Phil? Everybody seems to be in a stew to-day." "There's an awful row brewing. What did Mr. Whippleton do?" "He went to the safe, and looked over the pages of one of the books. What's the matter?" "He has been using the money of the firm for his own speculations, and in my opinion he means to run away with all the cash he can put his hands on." "Whew!" whistled the entry clerk. "Didn't he hint where he was going?" "No; he didn't hint that he was going anywhere; but I thought, from his having his overcoat, that he was going out in his boat." It occurred to me that he would be more likely to leave the city in the Florina than by any other conveyance. He could sail in her when he pleased, and cover up his tracks very effectually. I promptly decided to visit the mouth of the river, where he kept his boat, and see if she was there. In the excitement of the morning, I had almost forgotten the treasure which Mrs. Whippleton had committed to my charge. I had put it into a drawer in the safe which was not in use. I had locked the drawer, and put the key with the others. I had sealed up the package, and written my own name upon it, so that I had no fear it would be taken by the junior partner. But he had exhibited a new phase of character on this eventful day, and I trembled as I unlocked the drawer. My fears were realized. The package was gone. Mr. Whippleton had taken it. This was a serious catastrophe. I felt like sinking through the floor when I realized the loss. If it had been my own I should have felt better. It was a sacred trust confided to me, and I reproached myself for putting it into the safe. Under ordinary circumstances, however, it would have been secure there. The treasure had been given to me in order to keep it from him into whose possession it had now fallen. "What's the matter, Phil?" asked Robert, when he saw my grief and chagrin. "I have lost a valuable package," I replied. "Was it done up in white paper?" "Yes." "Mr. Whippleton took it from one of the drawers, and put it in his pocket." "Did he open it?" I asked. "No; not here." I thought it was very strange that he should take a package, marked "private," with my name upon it. But nothing that he did could now be regarded as strange. "When did he take it?" I inquired. "Early this morning; as soon as you had gone to Mr. Collingsby's." "The first time?" "Yes; before nine o'clock." It looked to me then just as though the villain knew the contents of the package. "If Mr. Whippleton comes in again, Robert, don't lose sight of him for an instant. Follow him wherever he goes, if it is to the other side of the continent." "Why--" "Do as I tell you. I suppose Mr. Collingsby has the officers on his track by this time." "You don't mean so!"