“Yes,” he said, in a low voice.
When Tom heard the name Armstrong, all his doubts were removed. There was no longer a doubt that he had found the absconding clerk. But that was not his only object. He desired also to regain possession of the stolen securities, and they were in the hands of a powerful robber-chief, of whom he was himself the prisoner. Still he was not without hope.
The captain proceeded with his examination of the papers. They proved all to represent value, and could Mr. Armstrong have used them as collateral, he would have been able to avert his failure. Morton looked on with feverish anxiety while this examination was going on.
“May I have the papers back?” he asked nervously.
“Certainly not,” said the captain with emphasis.
“They will do you no good.”
“How do you know that?” demanded the bandit, fixing his eyes sternly upon his prisoner.
“You cannot negotiate them.”
“Can you?”
“No,” said Morton hesitatingly.