Mr. Vaughan surmised from the tones of the speaker that something had happened, and hastened to the door.
"Mr. Vaughan," exclaimed the excited clerk, "please come over to the bank at once. We have been robbed, sir."
"Robbed?"
"Yes, sir; everything is in confusion. The vault is open, and papers and securities litter the floor."
It took but a moment to recognize the truth of the clerk's statement. The vault door was wide open, but the lock had not been injured. The robbery had been committed by some person who knew the combination of the lock, or the vault had not been fastened the night before.
Mr. Vaughan discarded the latter idea, for he had tried the vault door before leaving the bank, and knew that it was locked. There were three besides himself in the employ of the bank—James Hendrix, the cashier; Frank Wentworth, bookkeeper and assistant cashier; and John Salters, general utility clerk, the man who had notified him of the robbery.
Neither Hendrix nor Wentworth had arrived, and Mr. Vaughan requested the clerk to gather up the papers which were still lying scattered over the floor, while he endeavored to find a clew to the robbery.
While they were thus engaged the cashier entered, and appeared surprised to find the president already there.
Mr. Vaughan immediately informed him of the robbery, and noted the look of indignation and astonishment with which the news was received.
"Hendrix, what was your cash balance last evening?"