“Bricks!” cried Larry, all excitement.
“Bricks,” answered Mr. Potter grimly.
“But where had the money gone?” asked the reporter. “If no one attacked them on the trip, if the money was in the valise when it left the first bank—how could it have been taken?”
“That’s the mystery,” replied Mr. Potter. “No one seems to know how the money got out. It was utterly impossible for it to have disappeared after the bag was locked on French’s wrist. Every one agrees on that point.”
“Then it was done before the valise left the Consolidated Bank,” decided Larry promptly.
“That’s my opinion,” decided the millionaire. “But how was it done? The four tellers stood by, and saw the million dollars put in. Then the valise was double locked, and set down by the chief cashier’s desk. He says he was there all the while, and yet, when the other bank’s tellers open the satchel, they find bricks instead of money. That’s the mystery. It’s like a conjurer’s trick. And that’s your story, Larry.”
“And a mighty big story it is, too!” cried the young reporter “I’m ever so much obliged to you, Mr. Potter. I think I’ve got the biggest scoop of years. I’m going to make a good story of it, and play up that mystery for all it’s worth. May I use your telephone?”
“Yes—but, for the same reason that you cautioned me, I wouldn’t ’phone the story in if I were you. It might get out.”
“Oh, I’m not going to tell the story over the wire,” spoke Larry. “I just want to let Mr. Emberg know I’ve got it.”
And, in a few seconds, he was talking to his city editor.