Carl stared at Mr. Thorndike in surprise and dismay.
"A burglar!" he ejaculated.
"Yes; I was present in the courtroom when he was convicted of robbing the Springfield bank.
I sat there for three hours, and his face was impressed upon my memory. I saw him later on in the Joliet Penitentiary. I was visiting the institution and saw the prisoners file out into the yard. I recognized this man instantly.
Do you know how long he has been here?"
"For two weeks I should think."
"He has some dishonest scheme in his head, I have no doubt. Have you a bank in Milford?"
"Yes."
"He may have some design upon that."
"He is very intimate with our bookkeeper, so his nephew tells me."
Mr. Thorndike looked startled.
"Ha! I scent danger to my friend, Mr. Jennings.
He ought to be apprised."
"He shall be, sir," said Carl, firmly.
"Will you see him to-night?"
"Yes, sir; I am not only in his employ, but I live at his house."
"That is well."
"Perhaps I ought to go home at once."
"No attempt will be made to rob the office till late. It is scarcely eight o'clock.
I don't know, however, but I will walk around to the house with you, and tell your employer what I know. By the way, what sort of a man is the bookkeeper?"
"I don't know him very well, sir. He has a nephew in the office, who was transferred from the factory. I have taken his place."
"Do you think the bookkeeper would join in a plot to rob his employer?"
"I don't like him. To me he is always disagreeable, but I would not like to say that."
"How long has he been in the employ of Mr. Jennings?"
"As long as two years, I should think."
"You say that this man is intimate with him?"
"Leonard Craig--he is the nephew--says that Mr. Philip Stark is at his uncle's house every evening."
"So he calls himself Philip Stark, does he?"
"Isn't that his name?"
"I suppose it is one of his names. He was convicted under that name, and retains it here on account of its being so far from the place of his conviction. Whether it is his real name or not, I do not know. What is the name of your bookkeeper?"
"Julius Gibbon."
"I don't remember ever having heard it.
Evidently there has been some past acquaintance between the two men, and that, I should say, is hardly a recommendation for Mr. Gibbon.
Of course that alone is not enough to condemn him, but the intimacy is certainly a suspicious circumstance."
The two soon reached the house of Mr. Jennings, for the distance was only a quarter of a mile.
Mr. Jennings seemed a little surprised, but gave a kindly welcome to his unexpected guest.
It occurred to him that he might have come to give some extra order for goods.
"You are surprised to see me," said Thorndike.
"I came on a very important matter."
A look of inquiry came over the face of Mr. Jennings.
"There's a thief in the village--a guest at the hotel--whom I recognize as one of the most expert burglars in the country."
"I think I know whom you mean, a man of moderate height, rather thick set, with small, black eyes and a slouch hat."
"Exactly."
"What can you tell me about him?"
Mr. Thorndike repeated the statement he had already made to Carl.
"Do you think our bank is in danger?" asked the manufacturer.
"Perhaps so, but the chief danger threatens you."
Mr. Jennings looked surprised.
"What makes you think so?"
"Because this man appears to be very intimate with your bookkeeper."
"How do you know that?" asked the little man, quickly.
"I refer you to Carl."
"Leonard Craig told me to-night that this man Stark spent every evening at his uncle's house."
Mr. Jennings looked troubled.
"I am sorry to hear this," he said. "I dislike to lose confidence in any man whom I have trusted."
"Have you noticed anything unusual in the demeanor of your bookkeeper of late?" asked Thorndike.
"Yes; he has appeared out of spirits and nervous."
