THE BANK ROBBER IS FOUND

Tony Denton lost no time in going up to the city with the second bond he had extracted from the fears of Prince Duncan.  He went directly to the office of his brokers, Gay & Sears, and announced that he was prepared to deposit additional margin.

The bond was received, and taken to the partners in the back office.  Some four minutes elapsed, and the clerk reappeared.

“Mr. Denton, will you step into the back office?” he said.

“Certainly,” answered Tony cheerfully.

He found the two brokers within.

“This is Mr. Denton?” said the senior partner.

“Yes, sir.”

“You offer this bond as additional margin on the shares we hold in your name?”

“Yes, of course.”

“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!” ejaculated 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.