“Pretty ⸺ queer!” snorted Kelsey.

“Ain’t it?” agreed Sleepy. “Queerest thing I ever heard.”

“It might have been the man who tied me up,” said Warner.

Warner was a small, thin-faced man, slightly stooped, wearing steel-bowed glasses. He took them from his pocket and hooked the bows over his ears, his hands trembling.

“Might have been,” agreed Sleepy. “Prob’ly took him quite a while to clean out the place. How much did he get?”

“I can’t tell you that, sir. I think Mr. Ludlow would like to hear about it as soon as possible.”

“No hurry; he can’t help any,” said Kelsey. “Warner, did you get a good look at this robber?”

“It was dark in here. He held a match in his left hand while I worked the combination.”

“Did, eh?” Kelsey seemed interested. “Well, how much of him didja see, Warner?”

“Not much, I’m afraid; only that arm in the light. You see, he stood rather behind me.”