Part 2 (2/2)
”Oh, this is terrible--terrible,” he moaned. ”Terrible, terrible.”
The door leading to the house was flung open and Mrs. Eustace faced them.
”Charlie!” she exclaimed. ”My rings and jewellery have vanished. The cases are all empty. I am certain--why, what is the matter?” she broke off to ask as she caught sight of her husband.
She glanced from him to Harding.
”What has happened?” she said wonderingly, as she advanced further into the office.
Opposite the open doors of the strong-room she saw the empty cash tray lying on the floor, the note drawer pulled out, the vacant s.p.a.ce of the reserve recess.
”Charlie!”
Her voice went to a shriek as the truth flashed upon her.
She rushed past Harding and flung herself on her knees beside her husband, her arms around him, her face upturned to his.
”Oh, Charlie, Charlie! Whatever are we to do?” she cried.
”Shall I go over to the police-station? We had better report it at once,” Harding said quietly.
Eustace raised his wife from her kneeling position.
”You must not come in here now, Jess,” he said. ”Go and learn, as nearly as you can, what has been taken from the house. Harding and I must send word to the head office.”
He led her from the room and closed the door after her.
”We shall have to use the code, I suppose,” Harding said, as he returned. ”If you will read out the words, I will write them.”
Eustace sank into his chair again and sat staring blankly in front of him.
”Come, come, old chap,” Harding exclaimed, as he laid his hand on his manager's shoulder. ”Don't give way. There's a mystery in all this. We shall want all our wits to clear it up as it is; don't make it worse.”
Eustace raised his head.
”But who can have done it, Harding? Who can have done it? Every place locked up and yet the money has gone! No one knew all that gold was here.”
”You and I knew it.”
”My G.o.d! You don't mean----” Eustace cried as he sprang out of his chair. ”You don't----”
”Steady, old man, steady. Keep your head. There's nothing to be gained by getting excited. You and I knew it was here and someone at the head office knew, as well as the fellows at Wyalla. Some word may have leaked out while it was on the road. There's no saying off-hand; what we've got to do is to keep cool and go slow if we're to clear ourselves. I'm as much concerned in this matter as you are.”
Eustace shook his head.
”No, Harding. I'm manager, and all the responsibility is on my shoulders. Whatever comes to light, I'm ruined. The bank will fire me out directly they hear of it--and this was my first branch too.”
”I would not look at it like that,” Harding replied. ”No game is lost till it's won. I'll send Brennan over as I pa.s.s the station. He may be able to throw some light on it. Come. Let us draft the report for the head office.”
<script>