"I must hurry to tell the police," he murmured as he urged his
machine forward at top speed. A little later Cora and Walter, who
had returned to Chelton, saw Ed standing on the steps of the police
station.

"Why!" Cora exclaimed to Walter in some surprise, "I thought Ed was
in New City, attending to that bank business."

"He ought to be," commented Walter. Then, noting Ed's white face,
he added: "Something's happened!"

A moment later Jack, who had left the Robinson twins at their home,
drove up in his runabout, and stopped it beside his sister's larger
car. He, too, saw Ed Foster's white face.

"What's the matter, Ed?" he called quickly. "Are you hurt?"

"No," was the answer, and the voice was strained.

"But something has happened," insisted Cora as she alighted from her
car and started up the steps of the police station.

"Yes," he said, and his voice trembled, "something has happened."

"What?" asked Jack.

"I've lost twenty thousand dollars--or--else it has been stolen!"

"Twenty thousand dollars!" cried Jack. "The money you were taking