"I suppose you think you might be able to solve the mystery?" This was said smilingly.
"I said we have solved it; at least, enough of it to make the rest comparatively easy."
"You astound me beyond words. Will you be good enough to tell me then the cause of this shortage?"
"Yes, sir; the fault lies with your tally-boards."
"That was my idea originally, but the mine captain assures me that he has careful tally-men on every board."
"I think he has very careful men there, sir. At least, they seem to me to be looking out for their own interests pretty carefully."
"You are making a most serious charge, Rush. Are you able to substantiate this?"
"Sub-level seventeen, to-day, as you will find by referring to your report sheet, has sixty tons to its credit."
"Wait a moment, Rush. My report sheet is in my desk in the library."
The superintendent left the room, returning with the report sheet. He ran down the page, placing his finger on a line, which he followed out to the margin.
"Your information is correct," he said, glancing up. "How do you happen to have these figures?"
"I have been watching the boards for two days."
"Yes, sir. As a matter of fact, though the tally sheet shows sixty tons as having come from number seventeen sub-level, only forty tons were actually mined there to-day."
Mr. Penton gazed at Steve Rush, who had risen and was standing before the superintendent, erect, steady-eyed and calm.
"Again, my lad, I ask you how you come to be in possession of these figures?"
"My chum, Bob, here, got the figures from the drift to-day."
"Yes, sir. Bob kept a very careful tally."
"Jarvis, were you absent from sub-level number seventeen at any time during the day?"
"Are you positive enough of your own tally to be willing to swear to it?"
"Then you have rounded up the whole case. There is nothing more to be done--nothing more left for me to do except to act on the information you have furnished me, which I shall do at once."
"If you have any reason to believe this will not fully account for the shortage, would it not be an excellent idea to have the other tally-men inspected?"
"An excellent idea; yes, it shall be done. Tell me how the tally-man, Marvin, worked his end of the game. Although you have not explained that part of it, it goes without saying that he was in collusion with Spooner."