"Were any of the securities negotiable?"
"There were two government bonds of five hundred dollars each. They were registered, however, in the name of the owner, James Vanderpool, one of our customers. Indeed, the box was his, and was temporarily in our care."
"Then there would be a difficulty about disposing of the bonds."
"Yes."
"We may be able to get at the thief through them. Very probably he may be tempted to offer them for sale at some broker's office."
"It is quite possible."
"We will do our best to ferret out the thief. The chances are good."
"The thief will not be likely to profit much by his theft," said Mr. Turner, when they were again in the street. "The four hundred dollars, to be sure, he can use; but the railway and bank stocks will be valueless to him, and the bonds may bring him into trouble. Still, the loss of the securities is an inconvenience; I shall be glad to recover them. By the way, Mr. Vanderpool ought at once to be apprised of his loss. You may go up there at once. Here is his address."
Mr. Turner wrote upon a card, the name
James Vanderpool,
No. — West Twenty-Seventh Street