"Mr. Denton," said Mr. Gay searchingly, "where did you get this bond?"
"Where did I get it?" repeated Denton nervously. "Why, I bought it."
"How long since?"
"About a year."
The two partners exchanged glances.
"Where do you live, Mr. Denton?"
"In Groveton."
"Ahem! Mr. Sears, will you be kind enough to draw out the necessary papers?"
Tony Denton felt relieved. The trouble seemed to be over.
Mr. Gay at the same time stepped into the main office and gave a direction to one of the clerks.
Mr. Sears drew out a large sheet of foolscap, and began, in very deliberate fashion, to write. He kept on writing for some minutes.
Tony Denton wondered why so much writing should be necessary in a transaction of this kind. Five minutes later a young man looked into the office, and said, addressing Mr. Gay. "All right!"
Upon that Mr. Sears suspended writing.
"Mr. Denton," said Mr. Gay, "are you aware that this bond which you have brought us was stolen from the Groveton Bank?"
"I--don"t--believe--it," gasped Denton, turning pale.
"The numbers of the stolen bonds have been sent to all the bankers and brokers in the city. This is one, and the one you brought us not long since is another. Do you persist in saying that you bought this bond a year ago?"
"No, no!" exclaimed Denton, terrified.
"Did you rob the bank?"
"No, I didn"t!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the terrified man, wiping the perspiration from his brow.
"Where, then, did you get the bonds?"
"I got them both from Prince Duncan, president of the bank."
Both partners looked surprised.
One of them went to the door of the office, and called in Mr.
Armstrong, who, as well as a policeman, had been sent for.
Tony Denton"s statement was repeated to him.
"I am not surprised," he said. "I expected it."
Tony Denton now made a clean breast of the whole affair, and his words were taken down.
"Are you willing to go to Groveton with me, and repeat this in presence of Mr. Duncan?" asked Mr. Armstrong.
"Yes."
"Will you not have him arrested?" asked Mr. Gay.
"No, he has every reason to keep faith with me."
It was rather late in the day when Mr. Armstrong, accompanied by Tony Denton, made their appearance at the house of Prince Duncan.
When the banker"s eyes rested on the strangely a.s.sorted pair, his heart sank within him. He had a suspicion of what it meant.
"We have called on you, Mr. Duncan, on a matter of importance,"
said Mr. Armstrong.
"Very well," answered Duncan faintly.
"It is useless to mince matters. I have evidence outside of this man"s to show that it was you who robbed the bank of which you are president, and appropriated to your own use the bonds which it contained."
"This is a strange charge to bring against a man in my position.
Where is your proof?" demanded Duncan, attempting to bl.u.s.ter.
"I have Mr. Denton"s evidence that he obtained two thousand-dollar bonds of you."
"Very well, suppose I did sell him two such bonds?"
"They were among the bonds stolen."
"It is not true. They were bonds I have had for five years."
"Your denial is useless. The numbers betray you."
"You did not have the numbers of the bonds."
"So you think, but I have obtained them from an old book-keeper of mine, now at the West. I sent a special messenger out to obtain the list from him. Would you like to know who the messenger was?"
"Who was it?"
"Luke Larkin."
"That boy!" exclaimed Duncan bitterly.
"Yes, that boy supplied me with the necessary proof. And now, I have a word to say; I can send you to prison, but for the sake of your family I would prefer to spare you. But the bonds must be given up."
"I haven"t them all in my possession."
"Then you must pay me the market price of those you have used. The last one given to this man is safe."