PAY CASH
It was the rush hour at the Metropolis Trust Company and the busy paying teller counted out silver and gold and treasury notes of varying denominations with the mechanical precision and exactness which experience gives.Suddenly his hand stopped midway toward the money drawer, his attention arrested by the signature on a check.
A swift glance upward showed him a girl's face at the grille of the window.There was an instant's pause, then she addressed him.
"Do hurry, Mr.McDonald; father is waiting for me.""Pardon me, Miss McIntyre." He stamped the check and laid it to one side."how do you want the money?""Oh, I forgot." She glanced at a memorandum on the back of an envelope."Mrs.Brewster wishes ten tens, five twenties, and ten ones.
Thank you, good afternoon," and counting over the money she thrust it inside her bag and hurried away.
She had been gone a bare five minutes when Kent reached the window and pushed several checks toward the teller.
"Is Mr.Clymer in his office, McDonald?" he asked, placing the bank notes given, him in his wallet.
"I'm not sure." The teller glanced around at the clock; the hands stood at ten minutes of three."It's pretty near closing time, Kent;still, he may be there."
"I'll go and see," and with a nod of farewell Kent turned on his heel and walked off in the direction of the office of the bank president.On reaching there he saw, through the glass partition of the door, Clymer seated in earnest conclave with two men.
Happening to glance up Clymer recognized Kent and beckoned to him to come inside."You know Taylor," he said by way of introduction.
"And this is Mr.Harding of New York - Mr.Kent," he turned around in his swivel chair to face the three men."Draw up a chair, Kent;we were just going over to see you.
"Yes?" Kent looked inquiringly at the bank president, the gravity of his manner betokened serious tidings." What is it, Mr.Clymer?"Clymer did not reply at once."It's this," he said finally, with blunt directness."Your partner, Philip Rochester, appears to be a bankrupt.Harding and Taylor came in here to attach his private bank account to cover indebtedness to their business firms."An exclamation broke from Kent."Impossible!" he gasped.
"I would have said the same this morning," declared Clymer."But on investigation I find that Rochester has over-drawn his account here for a large amount and borrowed heavily.The further I look into his financial affairs the more involved I find them.""But" - Kent was white-lipped."I know for an absolute fact that Rochester was paid some exceedingly large fees last week, totaling over fifty thousand dollars.""He has never deposited such a sum, or anywhere like that amount in this bank either last week or this," stated Clymer, running his eyes down a bank statement which, with several pass books, lay on his desk.
"Does he carry accounts at other banks?" inquired Harding.
"Not that I can discover," responded Taylor."I have been to every national and private banking house in Washington, but all deny having him as a depositor.Did Rochester ever bank out of town, Kent?""Not to my knowledge." Kent drew out a bank book."Here is the firm's balance, Mr.Clymer; we bank here, you know.""Yes." Clymer's look of anxiety deepened.
"Did you see McDonald as you came in?"
"Yes, he cashed some checks for me."
"Your personal checks?"
"Yes." Kent looked questioningly at Clymer.What do you mean?""Only this; that all moneys deposited here in the firm name of Rochester and Kent have been drawn out.""That's not possible!" Kent started up.
"Checks on that account must bear both Rochester's signature and mine.""Checks bearing both signatures have been presented for the total sum deposited to your credit," stated Clymer and he picked up four canceled checks."See for yourself."Kent stared at the checks in dumbfounded silence; then carrying them to the light he examined them with minute care before bringing them back to the bank president.
"This is the first I have heard of these transactions," he said.
"You mean -"
"That the signatures are clever forgeries." His statement was heard with gravity.Taylor exchanged a meaning look with the New Yorker.
