This certainly looked plausible, and I
acknowledge that few except my father, who never trusted without
trusting entirely, would have acted so imprudently.
" 'Where is the clerk who was in your office at the time?"
inquired my uncle.
The lawyer looked somewhat discomposed at this question.
" 'Why do you ask?'he inquired abruptly.
" 'Because,' was the reply, 'his evidence is very important to
us. My brother states that he was present when the deposit was
made.'
" 'I don't know where he is,' said the lawyer. 'He was too
dissipated to remain in my office, and I accordingly discharged
him.'
"My uncle suspected that the clerk had been bribed to keep
silence, and for additional security sent off to some distant
place.
"Nothing could be done. Strong as our suspicions, and absolute as
was our conviction of the lawyer's guilt, we had no recourse. But
from that time I devoted my life to the exposure of this man.
Fortunately I was not without means. The other half of my
father's property came to me; and the interest being considerably
more than I required for my support, I have devoted the remainder
to, prosecuting inquiries respecting the missing clerk.
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