"Be seated, Alden. It almost unmans me; in fact, ever since this affair came to my knowledge my confidence in mankind has been shaken as never before. I see you are overcome; why not confess your crime, and let us see that you are not as depraved as your act would indicate."
"My God! what do you mean? Confess what? At least, inform me of what I am charged."
"Why inform you of what you already know? The abstraction of the funds has been discovered and the worthless bonds are here."
Turning to his desk and opening a drawer, he laid before the astonished cashier five thousand dollars in worthless paper.
"I swear before my Maker," exclaimed George, "that I never saw those bonds before. What conspiracy is this?"
The president affected surprise and answered:
"You act your part well. You little thought, I suppose, that we would discover your crime. The books, however, show that some time in August last year you took five thousand dollars in money from the bank, placing these worthless bonds in the vault as collateral."
George Alden rose to his feet, and lifting his clenched hand above his head, and bringing it down upon the table before him, said:
"It is a lie! If anything is wrong the villain is in the other room."