He visited his clubs, and, because it was necessary, many of
the gambling places, but his quest was fruitless. As a last resort he
went to the War Office and learned that the Colonel had sailed the
day before to join his regiment in India.
The Captain reported the failure of his mission to Florence.
"I have been talking the matter over with Aunt Ella. She advises me
to send a cable message to father asking what bank the check was
deposited in and by whom."
"He may have cashed it at your father's bank," said the Captain.
"Then Aunt Ella says my father can see the bank officers and make
sure that the Colonel got the money."
"I will go back to London to-morrow and send the message in your
name."
"The story deepens," said the Captain, when he returned with the
reply from the Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer. It read,
"State National. Deposited five hundred. Revere House. Interviewed my
bank."
"What does it mean?" asked Florence. "So many words are omitted. I
can't make sense of it."
"It means," said the Captain, "that Col. Spencer is innocent. He was
staying at the Revere House when I paid him his three hundred
dollars. He must have cashed your father's check at the hotel, they
paying him five hundred dollars only, and they, I mean the hotel
proprietors, deposited it in their bank, the State National."
"But what do the last three words mean?"
"They mean that some one in your father's bank raised the check and
he has seen the bank officers about it.
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