ard. He was resolved not to be captured, and said that no two men
should take him alive. He then told me that he wanted me to take the
team back to Des Moines, and that he would take the train at Grand
Junction, and try to make his way to Manitoba. We parted company at the
Junction, where Tod took the train for Sioux City. He paid all the
expenses of the trip and offered to give me some of the money, but I
refused to accept any, and told him what I had done was done simply for
friendship."

"How much money did Duncan have at that time?" asked Manning.

"He had nearly four thousand dollars, I should judge," answered King.

"Did he say who assisted him in this robbery?"

"Yes; he told me that a man by the name of Edwards was one, and that the
assistant cashier of the bank was the prime mover in the whole affair.
He also said that the cashier had not played fair, but had taken out
twelve thousand dollars in gold instead of six thousand. He was very
bitter against this man, and said he believed that he would give them
all away to save his own neck, if it came to the pinch."

After some further conversation, which convinced Manning that King was
telling the truth and that he was entirely ignorant of Duncan's
hiding-place, the young brakeman was allowed to go his way, with the
understanding that they were to meet again in the evening.

Manning now hastened to the telegraph office, and a cipher message,
containing in brief all he had thus far learned, was soon upon its way
to me.

My reply was to the effect that he should again see King, and inquire if
Duncan had mentioned anything about the valise which they had carried
away from Geneva. Then to endeavor to obtain a photograph of Duncan, and
finally thereafter to lose no time in starting out for Sioux City.

I was considerably exercised about this missing package of gold. I could
not believe that Pearson had taken it, although both Edwards and Duncan
appeared to be positive of it. The young cashier now seemed to be too
utterly crushed down and humiliated to permit me to believe that he had
lied still further, and that he was still keeping back a portion of the
plunder he had secured. Still, however much I was desirous of discarding
such a belief, I was resolved to leave no stone unturned in order to
explain the mystery. I felt positive that some explanation would yet be
made that would account for this package, and in a manner that would not
connect Eugene Pearson wit