“I have information, Mr. Bentfield, that your bank has lost a large sum of money.”
“Lost? How?” asked the president, as if in surprise.
“By robbery!”
“Who told you?” interposed one of the other men.
“I am not at liberty to say,” replied Larry, for Mr. Emberg, in giving him the source of the “tip,” had cautioned him to say nothing about it. In fact, a private detective agency, to which the bank had appealed, had informed, or “tipped off,” the city editor. As this was not supposed to be done, naturally the detective who gave the “tip” wanted to be protected, and a newspaper man always holds inviolate, if so requested, the source of his information.
“I’m afraid I have no news for you,” spoke the president calmly, yet Larry noted a nervous twitching of Mr. Bentfield’s hands.
“You mean you won’t tell me,” suggested Larry with a smile. He had met such obstinacy before.
“We have nothing for the press,” said Mr. Bentfield firmly.
“Then I shall have to get my information elsewhere, I suppose,” went on Larry calmly. “I might say that I know that this bank has lost a million dollars——”
“Hush!” exclaimed one of the directors in a startled whisper. “You’ll start a panic!”