an advance on your month’s wages.”
“I admit it.”
“And then the day of this robbery you suddenly have nine hundred dollars that you can’t explain.”
Mr. Hardy’s calm voice broke in.
“Of course, I don’t like to pry into your private affairs, Mr. Robinson,” he said; “but it would be best if you could clear up this matter of the money. You must admit yourself that it doesn’t look promising.”
“I know it looks bad,” replied the caretaker doggedly. “But I can’t tell you where that money came from.”
“And you admit knowing the combination of the safe, too!” broke in Applegate. “I didn’t know that before. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t consider it important enough. I had found the combination by accident and I had no intention of using it. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I could remember it accurately right now. I just put the paper back and decided to say nothing about it, to save trouble.”
“And yet you come and tell me about it now!”
“I have nothing to conceal. If I had taken the money I wouldn’t very likely be telling you now that I knew the combination.”
“Yes,” agreed Mr. Hardy, “that’s a point in your favor.”
“Is it?” asked Applegate. “You’re just clever enough to think up a trick like that, Robinson. You think that if you come to me now and admit you knew the combination I’ll believe that you are so honest that you couldn’t have committed this robbery. Very clever. But not clever