The Burglars Fate and The Detectives | Page 6

president. As he passed through the room he took a
passing inventory of the young assistant cashier, Mr. Pearson, who was
busily engaged upon his books. He appeared to be a young man of
about twenty-four years of age; of a delicate and refined cast of
countenance and about medium height. His hair and a small curly
mustache were of a light brown shade, and his complexion was as fair
as a woman's. The young lady who had been the other victim of the
assault was not present, and the detective concluded that she was as yet
unable to attend to her duties.
These thoughts and impressions passed through his mind as he walked

through the banking room into the office of the president. As he entered
this apartment, he found several gentlemen evidently awaiting his
appearance, all of whom wore a thoughtful, troubled look, as though
they keenly felt the losses they had sustained and were resolved to bear
up manfully under their misfortune.
Mr. Silby, the president, a tall, fine-looking gentleman in the prime of
life, arose as the detective entered. Mr. Silby was one of those persons
who instinctively impress the beholder, with a confidence closely
approaching to veneration. Of a commanding presence, a broad noble
face surmounted with a wealth of hair in which the silvery touch of
time has left many traces, while his deep blue eyes were as bright as
those of a youth of twenty. There was such an air of rugged and
uncompromising honesty, of kindly feeling and warm-heartedness
about the man, that even before he had spoken the detective
experienced a strong impulse of regard for him, and a corresponding
determination to perform his full duty in this investigation and to
devote all the energy of his being to the task before him.
Presenting his letter of introduction, Mr. Silby hastily ran his eyes over
the contents, and then extending his hand he gave the detective a most
cordial greeting, and introduced him to the other gentlemen present, all
of whom received him warmly.
"Take a seat, Mr. Manning," said Mr. Silby, drawing up a chair. "You
find us anxiously awaiting your arrival, and prepared to give you any
information you desire."
"Thanks," responded the operative, taking the proffered chair. "As I
have come here for the purpose of making an examination into this case,
I shall require all the information that is possible to obtain."
"Very well," said Mr. Silby. "Now, what do you desire first?"
"A full statement as to how the robbery was committed," answered the
detective, promptly.
"Mr. Welton," said Mr. Silby, turning to a gentleman at his right, who

had been introduced to the detective as the cashier of the bank,
"perhaps you can relate the particulars better than I can."
"Excuse me," interrupted the detective, "but were you present at the
time the robbery occurred?"
"No, sir, I was not present," replied Mr. Welton. "Mr. Pearson, our
assistant cashier, and Miss Patton, were the only persons in the bank at
that time."
"Then," said the detective, "suppose we have Mr. Pearson in at once,
and hear the story from him. We always prefer," he added, with a smile,
"to receive the particulars of these affairs from eye-witnesses."
The other gentlemen nodded a cordial assent to this proposition, and
Mr. Welton arose, and going to the door, requested Mr. Pearson to
enter the consulting room.
The young man entered the office, and upon being introduced, greeted
the detective with an air of frank earnestness, and signified his
readiness to relate all that he knew about the robbery.
He remained standing, and from his statement the facts were elicited
which I have given in the preceding chapter. As he finished, he pointed
to a scar upon his forehead, which he stated was the result of the blow
he received at the time from the robber who attacked him. The wound
did not appear to be a very serious one, although the skin had been
broken and blood had evidently flowed freely.
"Mr. Pearson," inquired the detective, after the young man had
concluded, "do you remember having seen either of those men before?"
The assistant cashier darted a quick glance at the detective, and then
answered:
"Yes, sir; about three o'clock yesterday afternoon, a well-dressed
gentleman came into the bank, carrying a small valise in his hand,
which he requested permission to leave here until the next morning. I

asked him if it was of any value, and he replied no. Informing him that
I would then place it in the office, the man thanked me, and went away.
When the two men entered the bank at six o'clock in the evening, I
instantly recognized one of them as the man who had called in the
afternoon. He was, however, dressed