"Do you think the danger so pressing?"
"Of course I don't know that an attempt
will be made to-night, but it is quite possible.
Should it be so, you would have an opportunity
to realize that delays are dangerous."
"Should Mr. Gibbon find, on opening the
safe to-morrow morning, that the box is gone,
it may lead to an attack upon my house."
"I wish you to leave the box in the safe."
"But I understand that you advised me to remove it."
"Not the box, but the bonds. Listen to my plan.
Cut out some newspaper slips of about the same bulk
as the bonds, put them in place of the bonds in the box,
and quietly transfer the bonds in your pocket to your
own house. To-morrow you can place them in the bank.
Should no burglary be attempted, let the box remain
in the safe, just as if its contents were valuable."
"Your advice is good, and I will adopt it,"
said Jennings, "and thank you for your valuable
and friendly instruction."
"If agreeable to you I will accompany you to
the office at once. The bonds cannot be removed
too soon. Then if anyone sees us entering,
it will be thought that you are showing
me the factory. It will divert suspicion,
even if we are seen by Stark or your bookkeeper."
"May I go, too?" asked Carl, eagerly.
"Certainly," said the manufacturer. "I know, Carl,
that you are devoted to my interests.
It is a comfort to know this, now that
I have cause to suspect my bookkeeper."
It was only a little after nine. The night
was moderately dark, and Carl was intrusted
with a wax candle, which he put in his pocket
for use in the office.
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