"Then we must act together."
"And what would be your advice regarding those papers in Bangs's private safe at his house?"
"Get out a search warrant and take a professional safe man along, to open the strong box," answered the bank official, promptly. "And do not delay either. He may take it into his head to burn the papers up."
"I will do as you say," answered Mr. Bartlett with decision.
Some of his old-time will power had come back to him and he lost not a moment in carrying out his plans. He visited a firm dealing in safes and from them got the address of a man who claimed to be able to open any ordinary safe made. Then he called on this individual.
"You open safes?" he asked.
"I do—if I have the proper authority," answered the man.
"Can you open a first-class house safe?"
"Yes."
"How long will it take?"