"
"Or the theft," suggested the president.
"No," said Ed slowly, "I don't believe it was a theft."
"Shall we send for a detective? Will you take one of our porters or
a watchman with you?" asked the secretary.
"No; I think I'll make a search myself, first, thank you. And
please don't tell the police--yet. I may have dropped it. I'll let
you know as soon--as soon as I go to a certain place and look. There
is time enough to notify the authorities afterward. I'll telephone
you if I don't find it, and then I'll tell the police in Chelton.
But I must hurry."
"Yes; you had better lose no time," advised the president.
"The thief--if there, was one--could easily dispose of those
securities. As for the money--?"
"He would have no trouble in spending that," finished Ed. "Yes, I'll
go back at once."
He hurried out to his auto, and was soon speeding back over the road
on which he had come. He reached the spot where the auto collision
had occurred, and where he had helped fix Cora's machine. Jumping
from the car he looked carefully over the ground, but could find no
trace of the missing wallet, containing the equivalent of twenty
thousand dollars.
"I must hurry to tell the police," he murmured as he urged his
machine forward at top speed.
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