It was shortly after one o’clock when Fred stepped into the library.  This apartment was really in two rooms, separated by folding doors.  In the front room Mr. Ripley had his desk, and did his writing.  Most of his books were in the rear room.  At the time when Fred entered the folding doors were closed.

“You wished to see me, sir?” Fred asked, as he entered.

“Yes,” said his father, pointing to a chair; “take a seat.”

“I hope it isn’t anything that will take much time,” hinted Fred. “you know, sir, I’ve got to be at the field early this afternoon.  I am to pitch in one of the biggest-----”

“I’ll try to be very brief,” replied the lawyer, quietly.  “Fred, as you know, whenever I find I have more money about me than I care to carry, I put it in the private safe upstairs.  Your mother and I have a place where we hide the key to that old-fashioned safe.  But, do you know, I have been missing some money from that safe of late?  Of course, it would be sheer impudence in me to suspect your mother.”

“Of course it would,” agreed Fred, with feigned heartiness.  He was fighting inwardly to banish the pallor that he knew was creeping into his cheeks.

“Have you any theory, Fred, that would help to account for the missing of these sums of money?” pursued the lawyer, one hand toying with a pencil.

“Do you suspect any of the servants?” asked the boy, quickly.

“We have had all our servants in the family for years,” replied the lawyer, “and it would seem hard to suspect any of them.”

“Then whom can you suspect, sir?”

“Fred, do you know, I have had a quiet little idea.  I am well acquainted with the scrapes that young fellows sometimes get into.  My experience as a lawyer has brought me much in contact with such cases.  Now, it is a peculiar thing that young fellows often get into very bad scrapes indeed in pursuing their peculiar ideals of manliness.  Fred, have you been getting into any scrapes?  Have you found out where your mother and I hide the key to the safe?  Have you been helping yourself to the money on the sly?”

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.”