"Why," laughed Degger, "of course the bank people and the local police are running around in circles. But it is easy to understand that a crack like this was made by a bunch of yeggs who probably came into town last night on a hand-car. Usually such gangs tap both the bank and the post-office in such a burg as this. But the bank yielded such a harvest they left the P.O. alone." "Did nobody see or hear them?" "I did not, anyway; although I was up half the night with a toothache. I expect I’ll have to run up to Boston to see my dentist. He’s put a crown on a tooth that is kicking up rusty. "I was up, as I say, more than once during the night doctoring that tooth. But the Inn is on this side of the street, and our rooms—Lon Burtwell’s and mine—are at the back of the hotel. If those yeggs had used dynamite to blow open the vault door I imagine I wouldn’t have heard it." "My!" said Lorna, much interested after all, "I hope the poor people won’t have to lose their money. Just think! All the money Tobias and Heppy Bassett had in the world was in that bank." "Yes?" said Degger carelessly. "But the fact that the bank examiner is here and has taken charge doesn’t mean anything particular. The depositors needn’t be so frightened, I guess. But of course the bank officers can’t be held wholly accountable for a burglary." "But you said——" "They should have carried burglary insurance sufficient to cover the cash in hand—yes. And the Clinkerport Bank probably does belong to the American Bankers’ Association, so that the best detectives in the country will be sent out after the yeggs. "Still, and nevertheless, every bank burglary is not satisfactorily explained nor the burglars captured. And for a small institution like this, it is a big loss." "I am thankful we didn’t have much on account here," said Lorna reflectively. "I don’t know about our neighbors on Clay Head. Perhaps the Endicotts——" "That hard-boiled egg, Ralph Endicott, will be half crazy if he’s been nipped by this," sneered Degger. "If he had money in the bank I wonder he isn’t over here now, roaring about it." Lorna’s manner changed. "Ralph is not at home," she said rather tartly. "He has gone away." "Indeed! When did that happen?" "He went yesterday." "Not so early, I guess," Degger rejoined confidently. "I saw him here last evening." "In town?" "Yes. Fact is, I saw him twice. Once about nine and again an hour or so later. I was sitting on the Inn porch and saw him pass the bank and post-office on the other side of the street. He went slouching by under the trees there." "Why, Mr. Degger, I thought he left town in the afternoon."