Part 12 (2/2)
”Well, we have the stock all ready for you,” said the president genially It was not every day that his bank disposed of such a large block ”I trust you will find it a good investment”
”I believe I will,” replied Ed as he reached his hand in his inner pocket to take out the wallet that contained the money and bonds ”I looked into--”
He stopped suddenly A blank look came over his face Hurriedly he felt in another pocket Then he began a rapid search through his clothes
”What's the matter?” asked the secretary ”Did you mislay your valuables?”
”Yes--no--I don't see--”a frantic search His face paled The bank officials looked anxiously on
”Can't you find it?” inquired the president
”I've either lost my wallet,--or it's been stolen!” burst out Ed desperately
”How could it have been stolen?” asked the secretary
”I don't knoas the answer ”I don't see how it could have been, as, from the time it was in my pocket until now, I did not leave my auto--”
He stopped quickly The side the road, where the machines had collided, cahted there, and--
He pursued his reflections no further, but hurriedly got up froo back at once,” he said ”I will make a search I think I knohere the loss ested the president
”No,” said Ed slowly, ”I don't believe it was a theft”
”Shall we send for a detective? Will you take one of our porters or a watchman with you?” asked the secretary
”No; I think I'll make a search myself, first, thank you And please don't tell the police--yet I o to a certain place and look There is tih to notify the authorities afterward I'll telephone you if I don't find it, and then I'll tell the police in Chelton
But I must hurry”
”Yes; you had better lose no time,” advised the president
”The thief--if there, was one--could easily dispose of those securities As for thethat,” finished Ed ”Yes, I'll go back at once”
He hurried out to his auto, and was soon speeding back over the road on which he had come He reached the spot where the auto collision had occurred, and where he had helped fix Cora's round, but could find no trace of thethe equivalent of twenty thousand dollars
”I ed his machine forward at top speed A little later Cora and Walter, who had returned to Chelton, saw Ed standing on the steps of the police station
”Why!” Cora exclaiht Ed was in New City, attending to that bank business”
”He ought to be,” co Ed's white face, he added: ”So's happened!”
A moment later Jack, who had left the Robinson twins at their home, drove up in his runabout, and stopped it beside his sister's larger car He, too, saw Ed Foster's white face