"There is no need of my going in," said the man, angrily. "I paid you to sell the bonds. Now go back."
"He won't come," reported Frank. "He says I can attend to the business. He will take either gold or currency."
"No doubt," said Mr. Jones, significantly. "Thomas, go out with this boy, and tell the man that employed him that we do not purchase bonds unless we have a reasonable assurance that they belong to the person offering them. We will take the liberty of retaining them, giving him a receipt for them, and if we are satisfied, he can have his money to-morrow."
Robinson, who had been examining some newspaper slips, here came forward, and said:
"That is unnecessary. I find that these bonds are among those stolen from the house of Henry Percival, Madison Avenue, a week since. We must manage to delay the man while we notify the police."
Frank was very much surprised to learn that he was acting as agent for a bond robber, and was fearful that he might himself be regarded with suspicion; but he need not have troubled himself on this score. Wall Street men are good judges of human nature, and it was at once concluded in the office that Frank was the dupe of a designing knave.
A boy was dispatched to the nearest police office, and Frank was directed to tell his principal that he would not long be delayed.
Naturally, however, the man outside had become suspicious.
"I can't wait," he said. "Meet me on the steps of the Astor House at five o'clock with the money. I am obliged to hurry away now to a business appointment."
Frank could think of no other pretext for delaying him, and was forced to see him hurry away.