“I mean,” replied the teller, “by ‘character’ that there were one hundred and fifty one-thousand-pound notes, and by ‘value’ the value of the package—­one hundred and fifty thousand pounds.”

“Mr. Roe,” continued the major, “is it the custom of your department to have so large an amount of currency upon your side table?”

“No, sir,” replied the teller, “but I had been notified that a large draft would be presented today, and this package came nearest to the amount spoken of; consequently, I selected and brought it to my table out of the vault to be in readiness to pay the draft when presented.”

“You say you had been notified that a large draft would be presented.  May I ask who notified you?”

“The cashier told me this morning when we were getting ready to open,” was the prompt reply.

“Mr. Roe, when did you last see this money?”

“This morning about a quarter after nine, when it was placed upon my table; I counted the notes.”

“Mr. Roe, do you feel free to tell the Board the name of the party who was expected to draw on you for this large amount?”

The teller’s head dropped somewhat, and after a slight hesitation he replied:  “Major, I cannot do this in accordance with the rules of the bank.”

“Ah! that is all right, Mr. Roe; I forgot your rules.  We can get at this in some other way.  Mr. Roe, will you tell us if you did cash the large draft today which you say the cashier had indicated?”

“Yes, sir.  I cashed a draft for one hundred and thirty-eight thousand pounds.”

“Mr. Roe, was anyone in your room during banking hours?”

“Yes, the president and cashier both visited my room; it is their custom and, I believe, duty to do so each day.”

“When did you first miss the package?”

“When the large draft was presented about two o’clock.”

“What did you do then?”

“I spoke through the ’phone to Mr. Bone, asking him to come in.”

“Does not the porter come to your room occasionally?”

“He never comes into the room after nine o’clock.”

“Cannot other clerks enter?”

“Not without permission.  The door fastens with a spring lock.”

“How about your lunch?”

“Our lunch is handed us at half-past twelve through the door which we open.”

“Now, Mr. Roe, with your knowledge of the case, what is your conviction concerning this lost package of money?”

“Major, I am compelled to say that I have not the faintest suspicion as to how it was taken.”

Moving suddenly around, the major looked at the cashier and said:  “Mr. Bone, what was your business in the teller’s room this morning?”

“It is one of my duties, morning and evening, to tally the cash taken from the vault and returned in the evening.”

“How long were you there this morning?”

“Perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes.”