"Do you know what is in the safe?"
"No."
"Then don't become responsible for it. If you do he may claim that you took something out when he wasn't around."
This view of the matter worried Owen a good deal, but, as Balasco was now away, he could do nothing.
Bruce Howard had been sent down the Columbia to bring some machinery needed at one of the yards. He came back late that night, and at once aroused Owen, who had just dropped asleep.
"What do you want?" demanded the young lumberman.
"I just came in," answered Bruce. "Mr. Balasco and that Hildan were ahead of me, and they have gone into the private office. I thought maybe you'd like to know about it."
"I do want to know about it!" cried Owen, and aroused Dale. In a few minutes they were dressed, and then they walked toward the private office, telling Bruce to come along.
A dim light was burning in the office, and they sneaked up noiselessly and in a roundabout way, so as not to be seen should anybody be on the watch. They saw Hildan appear at a window and look out for a few seconds, then the curtain was drawn down.
"They are going to go through that safe, and I know it," muttered Owen, and he was right. Peering under the curtain they saw Balasco and Hildan on the floor in front of the safe, going through half a dozen documents. Some of the documents Hildan placed in his pocket. Then he brought other documents from another pocket and placed these in a corner of the strong box.