In the Hands of the Malays, and Other Stories

he plot begins to thicken, and I think we are on the right scent. I was taking drinks with some

use if you do, it is more than anyone in Chicago seems to. The chief has asked lots of men there about him, but no one seems to know the name. Of course it does not matter to us,

ut a man was asking me about him. I

speculations, that none of his friends would ever believe did anything of the sort, such as clergymen, and merchants with solid businesses, whose credit

om, the first step is gained, and we have found out that the respectable president of Brownsville Bank speculates largely under

do next?" Tom said as

to learn as much as we have, and we certainly seem to have got on the right clue. I never q

orld of good to take down his c

o much that I am sure I could not wish m

y has got to suffer, I would rather it was him than anyone else in Brown

heavy and unsuccessful speculator, seem to show without doubt that he is the real thief. His conduct in not arresting your father at once, and in allowing him without pursuit to get across the frontier, is accounted for now. He did not want an

ut even if he denounced Johnstone as the real thief, we have nothing to go upon. The mere fact that he has speculated would in itself be no proof, or that he did so under an assumed name, for he would urge that many people do the same, and that he

like to come here of a morning and go in and out as if I was in your employment, in case Mr. Johnstone was watching me,

me know. Anything that you may require to carry th

other still has the proceeds of the sale of our furniture, and I need hardly say how glad s

town some thirty miles out; but when the train stopped at this station the banker ran into the office, and, procuring a ticket for Chicago, continued his journey to that city. When he alighted there Roland followed him. He went to a small house in a retired quarter, and on knocking at the door w

to let," he sai

aid. "I shall not be a troublesome lodger, for I am a great deal away, and shall only sleep he

ere-not more than one night in the week. He travels, I believe, for some house of

I hope?" Roland said, "for abov

ernoon, but goes out directly, and comes back again at seven to his dinner; and he always goes off at si

at he would come on the following day to take possession. "My name is

the best of everything that is in season, no matter what it costs, and he has got quite a cellar of wine, and always takes a bottle with his dinner. I am sure the room was furnished nice enough for anything when he came; but he had all the furniture turned out, and put in fresh himself, and a heap of money it must have cost him

land said. "Not that I can afford to

to know him afterwards, don't you let out that I showed you his rooms. He

to give a clue to the identity of their owner. No letters or papers were lying about. Roland's attention w

is very handsome and good, but I should not car

determined that he would never run such a risk again, and so he

ownsville and informed Mr. Fernlea

hall have to obtain a list of the missing securities, and the next to find out whether any of them are still in that safe. Those are the steps, but how on earth are we to take them? Your father would hardly be likely to remember the numb

member the numbers; it is hardly possible that he should, when there are such a l

her informing him of the steps which he had

ou of taking, it is very difficult to bring the matter home to him; and as a first step it is absolutely necessary to get the numbers of

turned to his lodgings after dar

y boy, is

moment, for were your presence here discovered it would upset all our plans. But come in. I have a key, and you can go up with me. But

able to look at his father. He would hardly have recognized hi

which has fallen over me will be cleared away, and that I can again lift up my head and look my fellow-men in the face. I am ready now to give myself up, if Mr. Fernlea thinks that

nstone with the thefts, we may be sure that it would be destroyed the instant you appeared on the scene. The first thing, as Mr. Fernlea s

far as I know, there is but one way of doing so besides that of obtaining the list from one

is that,

get the book which Johnstone and I

ther? It is probably in the saf

they have changed the fastenings, there is nothing to prevent my unlocking the door, going up to my old room, entering it, and opening the safe as usual. There

ather, were you detected. You wou

ond time," Mr. Partridge said. "Well

t move a single step without consulting him. I will go up and see him at once. Before I start I will tell the woman of the house that I have

chair while you are away, for I have travelled without stopping

vely to Roland's account of

sed all through, and that he was only going to the bank for the purpose of possessing himself of the book which was his private property, in order to obtain the list of the missing securities, that he might, if possible, tr

hope that we are in a fair way of putting matters right at last. I tell you frankly, I thought at the time that it was foolish of you to run away as you did. But I think now that it

my plan for the rec

o have changed the locks. That is the first suggestion which the

was half-way here, but I am af

an go round to-night and try it. If I find it opens it, you can carry out your plan

be taken in my

l take good care that no one is near when I do it. If by any possible chance I were caught at it-I don't see, though, how such a thing can happe

il you come back. If by any chance you are detected in trying the door, it would be far better that it should be at this time of the evening, when yo

inutes Rola

upon the door, father. Th

e an exclamation

the hands of the bank. It is essential that we should get the entire list. It might happen that he has parted with those which you know to have been stolen, while he may have some of the others still in his possess