The Mystery of the Steel Disc | Page 8

shall want you
to write something in a moment and it will be more convenient for
you."
Anderson sat down, as requested, and turned his face toward Rand as if
he knew where the power lay. I could see the arteries in his neck
throbbing. I noticed that Rhodes was very pale, and the bank president
was laboring under great excitement.

"Now, to be brief, gentlemen, we are about to adjust this matter of the
disappearance of twelve hundred thousand dollars' worth of bonds from
the vault of the Municipal Bank."
Rand spoke in a soft even voice. I think I was the only man who moved
a muscle. I could see that at least Anderson's blood did not quicken any.
His eyes may have turned toward Rhodes. I could not tell. Rand went
on:
"Before I say anything further, I wish to remind the interested parties
that I have brought an officer with me and any violence would be
inadvisable.
"Mr. Anderson, you will kindly turn over to Mr. Smith that packet of
'90 government fours. Mr. Smith will give you a receipt in full. You
will also give Mr. Smith your order on Strauss & Company for four
hundred thousand dollars, which is approximately what Mr. Smith lost
when caught short on Overland Pacific ten days ago, and also your
order to Mr. George Rhodes for the remainder of your profits when you
went long on Overland Pacific this last week by using the Municipal
Bank as an involuntary partner. You will also give your consent to his
marriage with your daughter. Mr. Duncan here will arrange the matter
of fees and that will close the incident. If you do not, Mr. Smith will
prosecute you and I will furnish the evidence. If Mr. Smith does not
perform his share I will, in behalf of Mr. Rhodes, inform the bank
directors of his hand in Overland. Kindly do as I have requested, Mr.
Anderson."
The old fellow never changed color one whit, nor did the throbbing of
the arteries in his neck increase. They diminished, if anything. A bitter
sneer came on his face, and as he spoke he dropped into very broken
English.
"Vot iss diss nonsense, Meester, vot-afer-your nem-iss? Vot a ni'ice
liddle scheme bote Ah don't ma'eke no mohney baycoss Ah aindt got
dey bonts-s--"
Rand held up a forefinger and the old man stopped. He was now

breathing hard and was flushed. Rand drew from his vest pocket and
laid on the table before Anderson the little steel disc.
Before Rand could speak, the portieres parted, and in the opening stood
Marie Anderson, very white and drawn up to her full height. In one
hand she extended the packet with the typewritten slip still on the end.
"Father," she said slowly, in a low, tense voice, "here are the bonds. By
accident I just found them in a jar on the sideboard."
With surprising quickness Anderson drew out a drawer in the table at
which he sat, snatched up a revolver, leaped to the doorway, thrusting
his daughter aside, but as he turned and fired pointblank at Rand, who
had vaulted the table to reach him, the Indian knocked up the muzzle of
the revolver from behind. The bullet struck the ceiling and the next
instant Anderson was on the floor, helpless in the bearlike clasp of the
big red man.
The girl had reeled as if about to faint. Rhodes had sprung to her
assistance, but she recovered herself and seemed to be anxious to get
away from her father, as if from a reptile. Rhodes led her to the other
side of the room.
"Take the gun away from him and set him on the chair again, Tom,"
said Rand, as if nothing had happened. He returned to his own seat, and
we too sat down.
In fifteen seconds the smoke floating about the ceiling was the only
sign of the crisis just passed, Rand began again:
"In order to give you an opportunity to recover your composure before
you begin writing, Mr. Anderson, and to prevent your indulging in any
more foolish lies, I will tell you the evidence against you. You helped
your brother-in-law, Neilson, make the time-lock on the vault ordered
for the Municipal Bank in 1890. You inserted in the journal of the main
standard of the clock works a steel disc instead of a brass one, knowing
that the steel against steel would make a friction that would wear out
both in several years' time. By means of a second time-lock accurately

duplicated, and which, if I am not mistaken, is ticking away in that
black box on the mantel behind you, you were able to tell very nearly
the very hour when you could turn back the bolts of