"Oh, hello, Ned! I was wondering what had become of you,"
responded Tom. "Where have you been lately?"
"Oh, working overtime."
"What's the occasion?"
"We're trying out a new system to increase the bank business."
"What's the matter? Aren't you folks getting business enough,
after the big deposits we made of the bullion from the wreck?"
"Oh, it's not that. But haven't you heard the news? There is
talk of starting a rival bank in Shopton, and that may make us
hustle to hold what business we have, to say nothing of getting
new customers."
"A new bank, eh? Who's going to start it?" "Andy Foger's
father, I hear. You know he was a director in our bank, but he
got out last week."
"What for?"
"Well, he had some difficulty with Mr. Pendergast, the
president. I fancy you had something to do with it, too."
"I?" Tom was plainly surprised.
"Yes, you know you and Mr. Damon and Mr. Sharp captured the
bank robbers, and got back most of the money."
"I guess I do remember it! I wish you could have seen the gang
when we raided them from the clouds, in our airship!"
"Well, you know Andy Foger hoped to collect the five thousand
dollars reward for telling the police that you were the thief,
and of course he got fooled, for you got the reward.
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