"The safe in the office has been blown up with a dynamite cartridge," replied Mr. Jepson. "I should have thought you would hear it, for it shook all the buildings in this part of the grounds."
"Mrs. Dornwood heard it, but I did not," continued the principal, as he led the way into the office.
He took the lantern in his hand as he advanced, and then asked the instructor in mechanics to light the lamps. While he was doing so, the captain examined the door of the office. It had been bored in several places around the lock, and then pried open. In the room, all was in a state of dire confusion. A large portion of the door of the safe had been blown off, and it was wide open.
"These fellows understood their business," said Captain Gildrock, when he saw how effectual the explosion had been.
"I think they rather overdid the business," added Mr. Jepson. "The cartridge must have been three times as big as was needed to blow off that lock, and that makes me think the burglars had not had much experience in the use of dynamite."
"They evidently intended to use enough to tear off the door," replied the principal.
"But they made a noise like an earthquake, when there was no need of it. It is a wonder to me that they didn't blow the safe all to pieces, and destroy whatever there was in it."
"As I did not hear it, I am not a competent judge of the power of the explosion," added the principal, as he proceeded to examine the interior of the safe.
"I hope the safe did not contain much money," said Mr. Brookbine.
"Over two thousand dollars," replied the captain, with a smile. "I sold a house here, day before yesterday; and, as I have not been to the bank since, the entire payment was in the safe, as well as about one hundred and fifty dollars that was there before."