"Certainly, certainly," he responded, with a slight start. He had apparently forgotten her existence.
She stood silently looking at him for a moment.
"I'm awfully sorry," she said, at last, and her lips trembled slightly.
"Thanks," said the banker, and he smiled faintly. "It's a shock, the worst I ever had."
Miss Clarke passed out with quiet tread, pausing for a moment in the outer office to stare curiously at the shattered steel safe. The banker arose with sudden determination and called to West, who entered immediately.
"I know a man who can throw some light on this thing," said Fraser, positively. "I think I'll ask him to come over and take a look. It might aid the police, anyway. You may know him? Professor Van Dusen."
"Never heard of him," said West, tersely, "but I'll welcome anybody who can solve it. My position is uncomfortable."
President Fraser called Professor Van Dusen--The Thinking Machine--and talked for a moment through the 'phone. Then he turned back to West.
"He'll come," he said, with an air of relief. "I was able to do him a favor once by putting an invention on the market."
Within an hour The Thinking Machine, accompanied by Hutchinson Hatch, reporter, appeared. President Fraser knew the scientist well, but on West the strange figure made a startling, almost uncanny, impression. Every known fact was placed before The Thinking Machine. He listened without comment, then arose and wandered aimlessly about the offices. The employees were amused by his manner; Hatch was a silent looker-on.