“I find, sir, the condition of your bank to be very good, considering the poor crops and the depression in the cattle interests of your state.  The clerical work seems to be done accurately and punctually.  Your past-due paper is moderate in amount, and promises only a small loss.  I would recommend the calling in of your large loans, and the making of only sixty and ninety day or call loans until general business revives.  And now, there is one thing more, and I will have finished with the bank.  Here are six notes aggregating something like $40,000.  They are secured, according to their faces, by various stocks, bonds, shares, etc. to the value of $70,000.  Those securities are missing from the notes to which they should be attached.  I suppose you have them in the safe or vault.  You will permit me to examine them.”

Major Tom’s light-blue eyes turned unflinchingly toward the examiner.

“No, sir,” he said, in a low but steady tone; “those securities are neither in the safe nor in the vault.  I have taken them.  You may hold me personally responsible for their absence.”

Nettlewick felt a slight thrill.  He had not expected this.  He had struck a momentous trail when the hunt was drawing to a close.

“Ah!” said the examiner.  He waited a moment, and then continued:  “May I ask you to explain more definitely?”

“The securities were taken by me,” repeated the major.  “It was not for my own use, but to save an old friend in trouble.  Come in here, sir, and we’ll talk it over.”

He led the examiner into the bank’s private office at the rear, and closed the door.  There was a desk, and a table, and half-a-dozen leather-covered chairs.  On the wall was the mounted head of a Texas steer with horns five feet from tip to tip.  Opposite hung the major’s old cavalry saber that he had carried at Shiloh and Fort Pillow.

Placing a chair for Nettlewick, the major seated himself by the window, from which he could see the post-office and the carved limestone front of the Stockmen’s National.  He did not speak at once, and Nettlewick felt, perhaps, that the ice could be broken by something so near its own temperature as the voice of official warning.

“Your statement,” he began, “since you have failed to modify it, amounts, as you must know, to a very serious thing.  You are aware, also, of what my duty must compel me to do.  I shall have to go before the United States Commissioner and make—­”

“I know, I know,” said Major Tom, with a wave of his hand.  “You don’t suppose I’d run a bank without being posted on national banking laws and the revised statutes!  Do your duty.  I’m not asking any favours.  But, I spoke of my friend.  I did want you to hear me tell you about Bob.”