"Very well, just as you say. But I want it understood that I do it at their and your request. I am perfectly satisfied to leave things as they are." Taking the now familiar red pocketbook from his coat he opened it unconcernedly; then the three persons watching him saw a look of consternation banish the smile from his face. "What's wrong, Ackerman?" inquired the plain-clothes man quickly. Without a word the other held the bill book toward him. It was empty. Bonds, securities, money were gone! A gasp of incredulity came from Stephen. "I didn't open it--truly I didn't!" exclaimed he, in a terror-stricken voice. But Mr. Ackerman did not heed the remark. "I am afraid this looks pretty black for us, Ackerman," said Mr. Tolman slowly. "We have nothing to give you but the boy's word." Mr. Donovan, however, who had been studying the group with a hawklike scrutiny now sprang to his feet and caught up his hat. "I don't see how they dared put it over!" he exclaimed excitedly. "But they almost got away with it. Even I was fooled." "You don't mean to insinuate," Mr. Tolman burst out, "that you think we--" "Good heavens, no!" replied the detective with his hand on the door knob. "Don't go getting hot under the collar, Mr. Tolman. Nobody is slamming _you_. I have been pretty stupid about this affair, I'm afraid; but give me credit for recognizing honest people when I see them. No, somebody has tricked you--tricked you all. But the game isn't up yet. If you gentlemen will just wait here--" The sentence was cut short by the banging of the door. The detective was gone. His departure was followed by an awkward silence. Mr. Ackerman's face clouded into a frown of disappointment and anxiety; Mr. Tolman paced the floor and puffed viciously at a cigar; and Steve, his heart cold within him, looked from one to the other, chagrin, mortification and terror in his eyes. "I didn't open the pocketbook, Mr. Ackerman," he reiterated for the twentieth time. "I truly didn't." But the steamboat magnate was too deeply absorbed in his own thoughts and speculations to notice the high-pitched voice with its intonation of distress. At last Mr. Tolman could endure the situation no longer. "This is a most unfortunate happening, Ackerman," he burst out. "I am more concerned about it than I can express. My boy and I are utter strangers to you and we have no way of proving our honesty. All I can say is that we are as much amazed at the turn affairs have taken as yourself, and we regret it with quite as much poignancy--perhaps more since it reflects directly upon us. If there is anything we can do--" He stopped, awaiting a reply from the other man, but none came. "Good heavens, Ackerman," he cried. "You don't mean to say you do not believe my son and me--that you suspect us of double-dealing!"