“Let go,” he said, steadying his legs.
He landed on the metal floor of the vault. The light that streamed through the jagged opening was sufficient for his purpose. He started removing ledgers and cash-boxes to the center of the strong-room. Some, but not all, of these boxes contained money. It took him ten minutes, no longer, to count up the spoil.
Allowing for small bills and silver, he had obtained thirty-seven thousand dollars. He had expected two hundred thousand.
He bundled up the larger packages of bills, snapped rubber-bands about them and began a search of the shelves. He overlooked nothing. Book after book was torn apart.
Having finished with the last ledger, he stared up at Saidee’s intent face framed in the jagged opening.
“You’re a fine pal!” he said. “I’ve only got thirty-seven grand. You’ve steered me wrong!”
“Have you found the sucker-list?”
“No. I didn’t see it.”
“Look around. It must be there. He probably had no copy. He wouldn’t trust anybody with a copy. It is far more important than the money.”
Fay coolly tossed up the bundle of bank-bills. He hesitated.