"Because I wished to follow out the matter on my own hook, and, besides, I am almost a stranger to you, and you might think I was making up a yarn."
"No, Hal, I trust you thoroughly. I don't know why, but you have something about you that seems perfectly honest."
"Thank you." The youth was blushing. "I will never deceive you, Mr. Sumner, and you may depend on it."
"Tell me about this attempt on your life?" said the broker.
Standing by Mr. Sumner's desk, Hal related very nearly all that had occurred since his first appearance at the office. The broker listened with eager attention.
"You are right," he said, when Hal had concluded. "And apparently Ferris is as bad a villain as Hardwick. But how do you account for Mr. Allen being in with them?"
"On account of that conversation I overheard on the ferry-boat that night. They may try to explain it away as they please, I am convinced that they were talking of robbing your private safe."
"But Mr. Allen comes of very fine connections——" began the broker.
"That may be, but didn't you just say he didn't do just right?"
"So I did, and it is true. But that might be put down to a mere matter of sharp business practice, legally right if not morally so. But this other——"