Part 44 (2/2)

”Across the table from you? Why that was Rockwell, cas.h.i.+er of the Central Trust!”

”Precisely,” stated Todd, ”and the only reason that I am making this admission is because I happen to know that both of you bank there.”

”But,” protested one of the other men, ”Rockwell has been with them for years. He's worked himself up from the very bottom and had hundreds of chances to make away with money if he wanted to. He's as straight as a die.”

”Very possibly he is,” Todd agreed. ”That's the reason that I warn you that what I said was in strict confidence. Neither one of you is to say a word that would cast suspicion on Rockwell. It would be fatal to his career. On the other hand, I wanted to give you the benefit of my judgment, which, if you remember, you requested.”

But it didn't take a character a.n.a.lyst to see that the Department of Justice man had put his foot in it, so far as his friends were concerned. They were convinced of the cas.h.i.+er's honesty and no theories founded on purely physical attributes could swerve them. They kept the conversation to themselves, but Todd left town feeling that he had lost the confidence of two of his former friends.

It was about a month later that he ran into Weldon, the Federal Bank Examiner for that section of the country, and managed to make a few discreet inquiries about Rockwell and the Central Trust Company without, however, obtaining even a nibble.

”Everything's flouris.h.i.+ng,” was the verdict. ”Accounts straight as a string and they appear to be doing an excellent business. Fairly heavy on notes, it's true, but they're all well indorsed. Why'd you ask? Any reason to suspect anyone?”

”Not the least,” lied Todd. ”It's my home town, you know, and I know a lot of people who bank at the C. T. C. Just like to keep in touch with how things are going. By the way, when do you plan to make your next inspection?”

”Think I'll probably be in there next Wednesday. Want me to say 'h.e.l.lo'

to anybody?”

”No, I'm not popular in certain quarters,” Todd laughed. ”They say I have too many theories--go off half c.o.c.ked and all that sort of thing.”

Nevertheless the Department of Justice operative arranged matters so that he reached his home city on Tuesday of the following week, discovering, by judicious inquiries, that the visit of the examiner had not been forecast. In fact, he wasn't expected for a month or more. But that's the way it is best to work. If bank officials know when to look out for an examiner, they can often fix things on their books which would not bear immediate inspection.

Weldon arrived on schedule early the following morning, and commenced his examination of the accounts of the First National, as was his habit.

As soon as Todd knew that he was in town he took up his position outside the offices of the Central Trust, selecting a vantage point which would give him a clear view of both entrances of the bank.

”Possibly,” he argued to himself, ”I am a d.a.m.n fool. But just the same, I have a mighty well-defined hunch that Mr. Rockwell isn't on the level, and I ought to find out pretty soon.”

Then events began to move even quicker than he had hoped.

The first thing he noted was that Jafferay, one of the bookkeepers of the C. T. C., slipped out of a side door of the bank and dropped a parcel into the mail box which stood beside the entrance. Then, a few minutes later, a messenger came out and made his way up the street to the State National, where--as Todd, who was on his heels--had little trouble in discovering--he cashed a cas.h.i.+er's check for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, returning to the Central Trust Company with the money in his valise.

”Of course,” Todd reasoned, ”Rockwell may be ignorant of the fact that Weldon doesn't usually get around to the State National until he has inspected all the other banks. Hence the check will have already gone to the clearing house and will appear on the books merely as an item of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars due, rather than as a check from the Central Trust. Yes, he may be ignorant of the fact--but it does look funny. Wonder what that bookkeeper mailed?”

Working along the last line of reasoning, the government operative stopped at the post office long enough to introduce himself to the postmaster, present his credentials, and inquire if the mail from the box outside the Central Trust Company had yet been collected. Learning that it had, he asked permission to inspect it.

”You can look it over if you wish,” stated the postmaster, ”but, of course, I have no authority to allow you to open any of it. Even the Postmaster-General himself couldn't do that.”

”Certainly,” agreed Todd. ”I merely want to see the address on a certain parcel and I'll make affidavit, if you wish, that I have reason to suppose that the mails are being used for illegal purposes.”

”That won't be necessary. We'll step down to the parcel room and soon find out what you want.”

Some five minutes later Todd learned that the parcel which he recognized--a long roll covered with wrapping paper, so that it was impossible to gain even an idea of what it contained--was addressed to Jafferay, the bookkeeper, at his home address.

”Thanks! Now if you can give me some idea of when this'll be delivered I won't bother you any more. About five o'clock this afternoon? Fine!” and the man from Was.h.i.+ngton was out of the post office before anyone could inquire further concerning his mission.

A telephone call disclosed the fact that Weldon was then making his examination of the Central Trust Company books and could not be disturbed, but Todd managed to get him later in the afternoon and made an appointment for dinner, on the plea of official business which he wished to discuss.

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