“How did he learn the combination?”
“That’s the mystery; Alvin and I cannot guess. Was it known to anyone besides yourself?”
“No; I changed it two days ago and did not even tell Nora. Not another soul knew it—and look!”
She pointed to a bunch of keys, one of which was inserted in the lock of the middle small drawer, with a half dozen others dangling from the metal ring. It will be understood that while the door of the safe was opened by means of a usual combination of numbers, the interior was guarded by only a tiny lock and key. This was more convenient, for, when the massive door was drawn back, the little wooden drawers, even with a combination, would not avail long against a burglar.
“They have taken the money!” gasped the widow.
“Let us see.”
As Alvin spoke, he turned the key. The lock clicked and he drew out the drawer. There lay the big sealed envelope with the two thousand five hundred dollars intact within, while the stamps and cash receipts of the day were neatly piled on the shelf beneath.
The astonishing truth was that the criminal had been interrupted at the critical moment when he had succeeded in fitting a key to the lock. Had Mike Murphy been the fraction of a minute later in bursting upon the scene, he would have been too late. The robber would have carried off nearly three thousand dollars.
“That’s what I call the greatest luck that ever happened,” said Chester.
The discovery was as cheering as amazing. The large amount of money had been saved by a hair’s breadth. The woman clasped her hands in thankfulness. Chester slowly shoved the steel door shut.