With shaking hands Eustace produced them and stood watching, as the doors were unlocked and swung open.
The recess was as empty as the cash tray.
Dumbfounded, Harding turned to Eustace who, with his face ashen, stared blankly at the empty recess. Then a wild light leapt in his eyes and he seized the handle of a drawer in the counter where a loaded revolver was kept lest at any moment an attempt was made to rob the bank during office hours.
Harding sprang to his side and gripped his arm.
"Not that," he cried hoarsely. "Hang it, man, pull yourself together. Think of your wife!"
"It's ruin—ruin for me. Better finish it," Eustace muttered.
Holding him back with one hand, Harding pulled the drawer open with the other to take the revolver away. But the drawer was also empty.
"That has gone as well," he cried, letting go his hold of Eustace as he stooped to peer into the drawer.
Eustace sank into a chair and buried his face in his hands.
"Oh, this is terrible—terrible," he moaned. "Terrible, terrible."