Page:The Millbank Case - 1905 - Eldridge.djvu/166

 "I think he was afraid."

"Afraid!" repeated Trafford, almost thrown off his guard, but instinctively lowering his tone in sympathy with his companion. "Afraid of what?"

"Just about two years ago, he found one morning that his desk at the office had been ransacked. Papers were turned topsy-turvy and packages of papers had been opened and tied up again hastily. The thoroughness with which the search was made showed that the person had a well-shaped purpose, while the fact that a considerable amount of money, which was loose in a drawer, was not touched, proved that it was not robbery. We made every effort to find out the culprit, but without success. We had at one time suspicion of an office-boy, but nothing positive, and Mr. Wing wouldn't let him be discharged under circumstances that would do him a grave injustice if he were innocent. So we retained him."

"And he repeated the performance," Trafford said in a tone of conviction.

McManus looked at him, questioning whether this