“Let me see one of those bonds,” Dave said.
Iris handed over one of the certificates. He studied it for an instant and then gave a low exclamation of astonishment.
“Why, these are Standard Condonite!”
Seeing that the name meant little to the Misses Gates, he hastened to explain.
“Standard Condonite is one of the new oil companies that has been growing like a mushroom. The stock has tripled in value during the last year!”
“Then our bonds really are valuable!” Azalea exclaimed. She looked accusingly at Henry and Cora who had the grace to hang their heads. “You knew this!”
“That man put us up to stealing them,” Henry muttered, indicating Ronald Trent.
“But I don’t understand how you knew we had them,” Iris murmured in bewilderment.
“My wife heard you and Miss Azalea talking one day and you mentioned your bonds,” Henry offered. “We didn’t think anything more about it until that man Trent came here. He gave us money to tell him what property you had. He wanted us to git this stuff for him. Said he’d give us part of it.”
“And you thought you’d hog the whole of it,” Trent added bitterly. “You were planning to get away before I got wise to your scheme.”