While Mortimer was still in the cashier's improvised inquisition room, Allis Porter came into the bank to arrange the payment of her father's note.
The sunshine seemed to come with her into the counting house that was all gloom. Her glorious success, the consequent improvement in her father, the power to pay off his indebtedness--all these had turned that day into a day of thankfulness. The happiness that was in her rippled her face into smiles. When the door creaked on its hinges as it swung open, she laughed. It was a thriftless old door, such as bachelors kept, she murmured. Her brother's face, gloomy behind the iron screen, tickled her fancy. “You're like a caged bear, Alan,” she cried, with a smile of impertinence; “I should hate to be shut up a day like this--no wonder you're cross, brother.”
“I'm busy,” he answered, curtly. “I'll see you after bank hours, Sis; I want to see you.”
“I've come to pay father's note, busy-man-of-importance,” she flung back, with the swagger of a capitalist.
“Wait, I'll come out;” and opening a door in the rail, he passed around to the girl.
“Father's note is paid,” he resumed, “but there's fierce trouble over it. Crane left the money, three thousand dollars, with Mortimer, and he stole”--the boy's voice lowered to a hoarse whisper--“a thousand of it to bet at Gravesend.”
“That's not true, Alan; God knows it's not true. Mortimer wouldn't steal.”
“Yes, he did,” persisted the brother, “and he begged of me to take the blame. He said it would ruin him, but that Crane wouldn't do anything to me. He's a vile, sneaking thief, Allis!”
“Hush, Alan; don't say that. It's all some dreadful mistake. The money will be found somewhere.”
“It has been found; Mortimer put it back. Why should he replace the money if he had not stolen it?”
The boy pointed with his thumb to the door of the cashier's office. “Crane's in there, too. I hope Mortimer owns up. He can't do anything else; they caught him putting the money back.”
Allis remembered that she had seen Mortimer on the race course.
“Yes, he does; he did yesterday, anyway; and when he saw that I knew about it, he begged me to say nothing--practically admitted that he had taken the money, and was going to put it back.”