sit stands for a year, see? And the ten thousand the
Elder has set one side for the reward gives us twenty thousand we
could not count on yesterday."

"In all the history of this bank we never were in so tight a place.
It's extraordinary, and quite unnecessary. That's a bright boy--Sam
Carter. I never thought of his putting such a construction on it when
I admitted the fact that Mrs. Craigmile is to remain. Two big banks
closed in Chicago this morning, and twenty small ones all over the
country during the last three days. One goes and hauls another down.
If we had only cabled across the Atlantic two weeks ago when I sent
that letter--he must have the letter by now--and if he has, he's on
the ocean."

"This deposit tides us over a few days, and, as I said, if we could
only get our hands on that reserve of the Elder's, we'd be safe
whatever comes."

"He'll have to bend his will for once. He must be made to see it, and
we must get our hands on it. I think he will. He'd cut off his right
hand before he'd see this bank go under."

"It's his son's murder that's eating into his heart. He's been losing
ground ever since."

The clerks gradually disappeared, quietly slipping out into the
sunshine one by one as their books were balanced, and now the two men
stood alone. It was a time used by them for taking account of the
bank's affairs generally, and they felt the stability of that
institution to be quite personal to them.

"I've seen that young man before," said Mr. Copeland. "Now, who is he?
Harry King--Harry King,--the Kings moved away from here--twelve years
ago--wasn't it? Their son would not be as old as this man."

"Boys grow up fast. You never can tell."

"The Kings were a short, thickset lot."

"He may not be one of them. He said nothing about ever having been
here before. I never talk with any one here at the window. It's quite
against my rules for the clerks, and has to be so for myself, of
course. I leave that sort of thing to you and the Elder."

"I say--I've seen him before--the way he walks--the way he carries
his head--there's a resemblance somewhere."

The two men also departed, after looking to the safe, and the
last duties devolving on them, seeing that all was locked and
double-locked. It was a solemn duty, always attended to solemnly.

CHAPTER XXIX

THE ARREST

Sam Carter loitered down the street after leaving the bank, and when
Harry King approached, he turned with his ready smile