As for myself, realizing the importance of promptness and despatch in affairs of this nature, and fully appreciating the anxiety of the bank officials, I resolved to answer their call as speedily as possible.

But few words of consultation were required for the subject, and in a short time I had selected the man for the preliminary investigation, and requested his presence in my office.

John Manning was the operative chosen for this task, an intelligent, shrewd and trusty young man of about thirty years of age, who had been in my employ for a long time.

Well educated, of good address, and with a quiet, gentlemanly air about him that induced a favorable opinion at a glance.

Frequently, prior to this, occasions had presented themselves for testing his abilities, and I had always found him equal to any emergency.