“Did you get that money direct from David Harkins?”
“Then,” exclaimed the banker in a tone of triumph, “that proves my suspicion. The money that was taken out of my desk consisted of ten $100 bills, and the money you have just given me is made up exactly of ten $100 bills. That satisfies me.”
“It is a coincidence,” admitted the lawyer.
“Coincidence,” snorted the banker, “it’s sufficient to convict the man. It satisfies me, and it ought to be enough to satisfy any other man with brains.”
“I wouldn’t be too hasty,” suggested the lawyer. “There is nothing to be gained by acting in that manner.”
“Hasty? Don’t talk about being hasty. I am going to have justice no matter who is injured; and I don’t want to be soft-soaped out of doing the right thing. I am going to act, and I am going to act quickly.”
“But, my dear sir,” said the lawyer, persisting in his objections, “you must have proof; don’t you understand that? You must have proof before you can accuse a man.”
John Black was in a terrible rage by this time. He paced up and down the office rapidly, and then standing in front of the lawyer and raising his finger in a threatening way, exclaimed:
“I’ll have proof all right. The proof will be a warrant for the arrest of David Harkins on the charge of stealing my money.”
“I am sorry to hear you talk that way,” said the lawyer, “I think you are making a mistake. But, however, you are master of your own actions. When do you propose to do this?”
“Within twenty-four hours,” replied the other solemnly. “If you want to, you can serve a warning on Dave Harkins, and if he will restore my money at once I may be merciful to him; but if not, he must take the consequences. In any event he will have to make up his mind within the next twenty-four hours.”
CHAPTER VI IN WHICH DAVID HARKINS QUITS THIS LIFE AND TAKES HIS SECRET WITH HIM
News travels quickly in a small town. Before breakfast the following morning it was very generally reported that John Black had been robbed, and that he was going to issue a warrant for the arrest of David Harkins. The report shocked most of those who heard it. John Black was a hard man, and more than one of the citizens of Cleverly had felt the force of his iron hand.