“About three, he said. The other night he saw you get your keys out and open the suit-case, and he heard us talking, and to-day--” “Saw us through the door, eh?” “No, he says the door wasn’t quite closed. But he didn’t think of stealing the money until to-day. He came up here to ask me for another loan, and we were both out, and he remembered about the money in the suit-case and--and took it.” “And no one saw him?” asked Clem incredulously. “He says Mr. Tarbot saw him go by his study but didn’t pay any attention.” “That’s hard to believe. And look here, Jim, I don’t remember that door being ajar. My recollection is that you closed it tight when you came in from the hall.” “I guess I meant to, but maybe I didn’t, because Webb saw you go to your drawer and get the keys.” Clem jumped up impatiently, went to the door and set it open an inch or two. “Like that?” he asked, with a trace of sarcasm. “Tell me how he could have seen me go to the closet and open the bag on the floor there.” “He couldn’t.” Jim was finding his chum’s manner more puzzling every minute. “He didn’t say he did. He only said he saw you open the drawer and get the bunch of keys. The rest he just heard.” Clem shrugged as he closed the door again and went back to his chair. Jim was watching him anxiously, disturbed by something he couldn’t define. “Over there at the police station,” said Clem, after a moment’s silence, “the Captain told us that your--friend said he got the money from you.” “Yes,” agreed Jim, frowning. “And you said so, too, didn’t you?” “Of course! What else could I say? I _had_ to lie, Clem. If I hadn’t they’d have accused him of theft. I thought you understood why I was doing it!” “Oh! Yes, I see.” Suddenly Jim realized. Indignation sent the blood flooding up into his cheeks and for an instant his hands clutched the back of the chair on which they rested until the knuckles showed white. He stifled the exclamation of angry dismay that rushed to his lips, and in the moment he realized that, on evidence alone, Clem was fairly entitled to his belief. Yes, circumstances undoubtedly pointed to him rather than to Webb as the culprit! But the thought that Clem could believe him a thief, on any sort of evidence save that of his own eyesight, hurt him horribly. He felt almost sick for a minute.