“Am I to arrest this man?” asked the policeman.
“Yes,” answered the broker, sternly. “Mr. Sharpleigh, will you accompany the officer and prefer charges?”
“See here,” said Ralston, with an ugly look, “I’m not going to be a scapegoat. Your bookkeeper put up this job.”
Mr. Fairchild turned slowly and regarded David Mullins attentively.
“I will bear in mind what you say,” he answered.
“I took nothing of value,” continued Ralston, “and you can’t hold me. Here are three packages filled with green paper.”
“Yes,” said Sharpleigh, “the bank teller was acting under my instructions. I took care, however, to have one roll of genuine bills.”
When the three had left the office Mr. Fairchild turned to the bookkeeper.
“Mr. Mullins,” he said, “what could induce you to engage in such a wicked plot?”
“I don’t admit any complicity in the affair,” replied the bookkeeper, in a surly tone.