These last three questions Lawyer Ripley shot out with great suddenness, though without raising his voice.
The effect upon young Ripley was electrical. He sprang to his feet, his face dramatically expressive of a mingling of intense astonishment and hurt pride.
"Dad," he gasped, "how can you ask me such questions?"
"Because I want the answer, and a truthful one," replied the lawyer, coolly. "Will you oblige me with the answer? Take your time, and think deliberately. If you have made any mistakes I want you to be fair and honorable with me. Now, what do you say, sir?"
Fred's mind had been working like lightning. He had come to the conclusion that it would be safe to bluff his denial through to the end.
"Father," he uttered, earnestly, in a voice into which he tried to throw intense earnestness and sincerity, "I give you my word of honor, as a Ripley, that I know nothing more about the missing money than you have just told me."
"You are sure of that, Fred?"
"Sure of it, sir? Why, I will take any oath that will satisfy——-"
"We don't want any perjury here," cut in the lawyer, crisply, and touched a bell.
The folding doors behind them flew open with a bang. As Fred started and whirled about he beheld a stranger advancing toward them, and that stranger was escorting—-Tip Scammon.