He handed over a single sheet of paper. Larry read:
“Please have suspicions removed from all others. I alone am guilty. I took the million dollars, and hid the empty valise. I am going far away, so there is no use of pursuing me. I have the million—what is left of it—with me. I write this, so that no one else may be unjustly suspected, as I fear is now the case.”
It was signed with Norton’s name.
“What do you think of that?” asked the bank president.
“Well, it looks genuine,” admitted Larry, “especially as you say he has disappeared. But I am not so sure about what he says here, that pursuit is useless.”
“Do you think there is a hope of catching him?” asked the president eagerly.
“I’m going to make a big try,” replied Larry. “We have several things in our favor. I’m going to get right on this case, but first the story must go to my paper.”
“Certainly,” agreed Mr. Bentfield, and Larry hurried in, to write what proved to be another big “beat” in the bank mystery case. All the other papers were scooped.
“And now to get after Mr. Norton!” exclaimed Larry to his city editor, as the young reporter closed his desk on his typewriter.
“Have you any plan, Larry?”