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