"Mark, you're a cute rascal, but your story won't hold water. You've got three hundred dollars that belongs to me!" "Three hundred dollars?" gasped the youth, in amazement. "Yes, three hundred dollars--which you took from my safe this very morning!" cried Jadell Powers. "I want you to hand the money over instantly. If you don't, I'll call an officer of the law and have you locked up!" CHAPTER III MARK RUNS AWAY For the moment after his step-father had announced that he had lost three hundred dollars Mark was so dumfounded that he could not speak. "I--you--Did you lose three hundred dollars?" he gasped, at last. "Yes, I did. And you've got the money," returned Jadell Powers. "Mr. Powers, I haven't a cent of that money. In fact, I didn't know you had three hundred dollars in the safe." "I know better. I put the money in there yesterday, and you were there when I did it." "Perhaps I was there, but I didn't see you handle any money. Are you sure it was stolen?" "Of course I am." "Didn't you lock the safe door?" "Yes, but the safe is old and anybody could get it open by trying. Come, Mark, confess and give back the money. If you don't, you know what I said." The youth did not listen to the words. He was thinking of the stranger he had met on the stairs, when returning from the fire. Could that individual be the thief? "Mark, do you hear me?" stormed Jadell Powers. "Tell me where that money is this instant!" "I don't know where it is. But I think I know who took it." "Was there anybody else in the office?" "I think so, although I am not sure. Did you hear about the fire in Koster's bakery?" "Yes." "Well, when the fire broke out I ran downstairs to see what was the matter. I stayed down in the street a while. When I started to come back to the office I met a strange man coming down the stairs. I asked him if he wanted to see you. He said no, and said he had gotten into the wrong building. He got out into the street in a terrible hurry." "Tut, tut, young man! Do you expect me to believe such a cock-and-bull story as that? Not I! Just you hand over that money, or I'll call a policeman without delay." Mark gazed at his step-father in horror. Evidently the close-fisted lawyer meant just what he said, and the youth had a dim mental vision of being dragged to prison and of being convicted of an awful crime. "I haven't got the money, and I don't intend to be locked up!" he burst out, and with a dexterous twist he freed himself from his step-father's grasp and bounded down the street. "Stop! Stop!" yelled Jadell Powers. "Stop, I say! Somebody stop him! He's a thief!" He ran after the boy, but Mark was a swift runner and soon put a goodly distance between himself and his pursuer. Fortunately, no other people were close at hand, and by the time some men and boys joined in the chase, Mark was three squares away and still running like a frightened deer.