"Very well, then," Mr. Fernlea said; "I will let you know next time that Mr. Johnstone goes to Chicago. He generally takes the trip once a week, and to-morrow is his usual day."
The next evening the book was handed to Mr. Fernlea.
"Can I be of any further use?" Mr. Hertman asked.
"Well, if you can spare two or three hours I should be glad if you would go through the lists with us. Partridge is in the next room waiting."
"Certainly I will. I tell you I have taken up this business in earnest, and am prepared to help you in every way possible."
A minute later Mr. Partridge was called in.
"I am glad to see you," Mr. Hertman said, "and regard you as a deeply wronged man, and would spend my bottom dollar, if necessary, in clearing up this business."
The three men at once sat down to their work, and turned to the pages where Mr. Johnstone had scored a line of red ink against the securities found to be missing.
"We will take down the numbers and descriptions of the marked ones first," Mr. Fernlea said, "because as to these there can be no mistake."
This was soon done.