restitution of the money he
had taken. Under all the circumstances, therefore, I was inclined to
think that Edwards and his companion had taken the gold, and that the
capture of the remaining robber would unravel the seeming mystery.

I was further convinced of this by another incident which transpired in
this connection. After the valise had been found and returned to the
bank, Edwards was taken into the building. The silver coin which had
been recovered was placed within the satchel, and handed to him. After
taking it in his hand, he immediately exclaimed:

"Why, that isn't nearly as heavy as it was when we left the bank!"

Mr. Silby then brought out a sack containing five thousand dollars in
gold, and placed it in the satchel. Again Edwards lifted it, and this
time he at once said:

"That is more like it!"

This experience strengthened me in the belief of Eugene Pearson's
innocence, and that Edwards and his companion had either lost the gold
in some manner, or had disposed of it in some other way.

Acting upon this theory, the ground in the vicinity of the spot where
the valise was found was thoroughly searched by both the bank officials
and my operatives. All in vain, however; no trace was obtained of the
missing sack of gold, and the matter of its loss was as much a mystery
as ever.

After the preliminary hearing had been held, the prisoners were removed
to the county town, some miles distant, where they were placed in
confinement, awaiting the day of trial, which would not take place for
some time to come.

While these events were transpiring, we had by no means been idle. Our
primary success in arresting the three men thus far secured, had been
most gratifying to the officers of the bank as well as to ourselves. Of
course I was anxious to continue the search for the missing robber, but
no one possessed a better knowledge than myself of the expense and delay
that would be contingent upon such an undertaking. I therefore, as was
my duty, fully informed the officers of the bank of the difficulty to be
encountered if our investigation was continued. More than thirty days
had elapsed since the robbery had been committed, the news of the
burglary had been spread far and wide, and the information of the
capture of the three robbers would be equally disseminated. This would
probably place the fugitive upon his guard, and we could not pretend to
fix a limit to the time that would be necessary to effect his captur