“Would it be possible for an outsider to have entered the cashier’s cage, and substituted the bag of bricks for the bag of bills?” the young reporter inquired.
“Of course it is possible,” admitted the president, “but highly improbable. The entire part of the bank, where the clerks and tellers work, is, as you have seen, fenced off from the outside part, where the depositors enter, by a heavy brass grating. There is even a grating over the top, and the doors are all self-closing, locking automatically from the inside.
“A clever thief might, of course, manipulate a door, and so enter the cage, but his presence would at once be noticed, and an alarm given. No one, not an employee of the bank, is allowed back of the grating on any pretext whatever. An alarm would be instantly given should such a thing occur. So I don’t see how it is possible that an outsider took the money.”
“Then it comes right back to the other proposition, that some one connected with the bank did it,” decided Larry, “and I think we’ve got to work on that theory.”
“Impossible! Impossible!” exclaimed Mr. Wilson impatiently. “Our employees are all to be trusted.”
“It is hard to know what to believe,” admitted the president. “Are there any other questions you would like to ask, Mr. Dexter?”
“Several,” replied Larry, “but I want to think them over first. Could I borrow the bag in which the bricks instead of money were taken to the other bank?” he requested.
“Borrow the valise?” exclaimed the president. “What for?”
“Because I believe it will prove a valuable clew,” was the answer. “It is the start in solving this mystery. Where is the valise?”
“It is here,” spoke Mr. Bentfield, and, going to a closet, he took out the satchel which had played such an important part in the big theft.