"Do you mean stolen?"
"So it would appear."
"How could it have been done?" asked Adrian.
"I cannot say; but the strange thing about the whole matter
is that in place of the box, there lay upon the shelf an
envelope--yellow with age, upon which was written in ink that had
scarcely faded the words: 'Montezuma's Mine.'"
"Well, what do you think of that?" queried Billie, looking at the
others in amazement.
"I don't think," laughed Adrian. "It's up to you to do the
thinking."
"Is there no clue whatever?" asked Donald.
"Not that could be really called a clue. The only suspicious
thing that has happened to-day at all, was that a mountebank came
into our bank----"
"A mountebank!" from all.
"Yes."
"Did he have an ape with him?"
"No! He was quite alone. He did not come in to make merry, but to
get a bill changed. While he was there he was observed to
scrutinize the place very closely."
"But he did not go into your vault?"
"No! He took his change and went peaceably out."
"Then, why should you suspect him?" insisted Donald, casting a
knowing glance at the other boys.
"Because, an hour later, he came in again and said that one of
the bills we gave him as change was a counterfeit."
"Was it?"
"No, it was not, although it was an old issue.
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