the safe. There had been so
many customers in his store that afternoon that he had not been able to
take the box over before. There were several other persons present, I
recollect now that you ask me about it, but I had not thought of the
matter before, and I cannot recall their names."

"Well, I guess we can find out," I replied; "please go on. By the way,
one question: had George drank anything at all during the day?"

"No, sir, nothing whatever. George used to smoke a great deal, but he
_never_ drank at a bar in his life; all his young friends will tell you
the same. He sometimes drank wine at meals at his own or a friend's
table, but he never drank at any other place. He left my store about
half-past seven o'clock, and Flanders went with him to leave his
jewelry. Flanders' store is near mine, and he soon came back and chatted
with me a short time. He has since told me that he did not enter the
bank, but that he simply handed the case of jewelry to George on the
steps of the private entrance, and George said to him: 'I won't ask you
to come in, Flanders, for I have too much work to attend to, and I can't
entertain you.' These are the last words that George is known to have
spoken."

Here Mr. Gordon's agitation was so great that he could not speak for
several minutes, but at length, he continued:

"I went to bed about ten o'clock that evening, and came down late to
breakfast next morning. I did not see George anywhere around the hotel,
but I thought nothing of that, as I supposed that he had gone to the
bank. After breakfast, I got shaved, smoked a cigar, and then went to my
store. In a few minutes, a man named Rollo, who has an account at the
bank, came in and said:

"'Mr. Gordon, what is the matter at the bank this morning? It is now
after ten o'clock, and everything is still shut up.'

"'What!' I exclaimed, 'the bank not opened yet! My nephew must be sick,
though he was quite well yesterday evening. I will go to the bank with
you at once, Mr. Rollo.'

"One of my clerks accompanied us, and on arriving at the bank, we found
a cabinet-maker named Breed, trying to get in. I went and pounded on the
front door several times, but no one came. I then went to the private
entrance and gave the signal by rapping, to let those inside know that
one of the bank officers was at the door. We had a private signal known
only to the officers, so that I was sure there must be something wrong
when I found it unanswered. I had