Larry’s eyes sparkled at hearing this. News was coming his way fast this day—exclusive news, too.
It did not take long to send over the wire the story of the run, and how quickly and dramatically it had been checked, by the prompt action of the president.
“Hold the wire a minute,” said Larry, to the reporter in the office who was taking the story from his dictation. “The president has something else to add.”
“It is this,” spoke Mr. Bentfield, as Larry turned questioningly toward him. All the directors and other gentlemen in the room had been listening curiously to the manner in which Larry told the story over the wire. “We have decided to offer a reward of twenty thousand dollars for the arrest of the person or persons who got our million dollars,” said the president. “You may add that to your story. It may be of interest to the public.”
“I should say it would!” exclaimed Larry, and then in quick, crisp words he sent that additional information over the wire.
“They’re going to put a scare-head on that,” the young reporter stated to the president a moment later, still remaining at the telephone.
“Good! It may attract enough attention so that the general public will be interested in earning the reward,” remarked Mr. Bentfield. “It may help to arrest the thief.”
“I suppose you mean the reward will be paid if the thief is arrested, and the money recovered,” suggested Larry.
“No! The reward will be paid for the apprehension of the thief, whether he has a dollar of the money or not!” cried the president. “We want to make an example of him! It is a heavy loss for the bank, but, unless we find out how the robbery was committed, and get the thief, other banks may suffer likewise. The reward is for the thief, not the money!”
Larry added this bit of news, and then, at the suggestion of Mr. Bentfield, he dictated a statement to the effect that the bank officials had not the slightest clue to the thief, and did not suspect any one.