“Do you know the number of your bonds, mother?”
“Yes, I have them noted down, somewhere.”
“Good! I took the number of those the boy gave me for sale.”
Mrs. Estabrook found the memorandum. It was compared with one which Willis Ford brought with him, and the numbers were identical. Four numbers, of course, were missing from Ford's list.
“That seems pretty conclusive, mother. The young rascal has stolen your bonds, and offered a part of them for sale. It was certainly bold in him to bring them to our office. Is he in the house?”
“I'll go and see.”
“And bring Mr. Reynolds with you, if you can find him.”
In an excited state, scarcely knowing what she did, the housekeeper went downstairs and found both parties of whom she was in search in the same room. She poured out her story in an incoherent manner, inveighing against Grant as a thief.
When Grant, with some difficulty, understood what was the charge against him, he was almost speechless with indignation.
“Do you mean to say I stole your bonds?” he demanded.