“I want to sell these bonds.”

The clerk took them and drew them out of the envelope.  Then he figured a little on a slip of paper, and said: 

“They are worth two hundred and twenty-five dollars and twenty-five cents.”

“All right, sir.”

“Will you take a check or currency?”

Frank hesitated.

“Perhaps I’d better ask the man I am getting them for.”

“Very well.  You can bring them here to-morrow.”

“Oh, I will let you know in a minute!  The man is just outside.”

This answer immediately excited suspicion.  Frank was too little versed in business ways to understand how singular it was for his principal not to transact his own business under the circumstances, but the brokers were necessarily keen, shrewd men.

“Wait a minute,” said the clerk; “I will speak to Mr. Jones.”

Mr. Jones came forward and addressed Frank.

“Are you acquainted with the man who gave you these bonds to sell?” he asked.

“No, sir.  I met him in the street.”

“Did he offer you any pay for selling them?”

“Yes, sir.  He is going to give me a dollar.”

“Will you go out and ask him to come in here a moment?”

Frank obeyed.

When his employer saw him coming, he asked, eagerly: 

“Have you got the money?”

“No,” answered Frank.  “They asked me if I wanted a check or currency.”

“Either currency or gold,” answered the man, hastily.  “Go back at once, and don’t keep me waiting.”

“They want to see you, sir.”

“What for?” inquired the man, looking disturbed.

“I don’t know.”

“There is no need of my going in,” said the man, angrily.  “I paid you to sell the bonds.  Now go back.”

“He won’t come,” reported Frank.  “He says I can attend to the business.  He will take either gold or currency.”

“No doubt,” said Mr. Jones, significantly.  “Thomas, go out with this boy, and tell the man that employed him that we do not purchase bonds unless we have a reasonable assurance that they belong to the person offering them.  We will take the liberty of retaining them, giving him a receipt for them, and if we are satisfied, he can have his money to-morrow.”

Robinson, who had been examining some newspaper slips, here came forward, and said: 

“That is unnecessary.  I find that these bonds are among those stolen from the house of Henry Percival, Madison Avenue, a week since.  We must manage to delay the man while we notify the police.”

Frank was very much surprised to learn that he was acting as agent for a bond robber, and was fearful that he might himself be regarded with suspicion; but he need not have troubled himself on this score.  Wall Street men are good judges of human nature, and it was at once concluded in the office that Frank was the dupe of a designing knave.