noon
Of course , Mr. Gibbs had heard all about the letter from the brokers in Boston , and that matter was easily disposed of , for the cashier had been in touch with a member of the firm by long distance phone , and learned that they neither knew of a customer by the name of Morrison , nor had they ever handled any of the listed missing securities . Mr. Gibbs was desirous of learning all about the events of that day when Dick put the packet on the shelf in the vault . Evidently the cashier had not yet been able to distinctly recall every little incident that had happened on that occasion , and Mr. Gibbs laid particular stress upon the fact that besides Mr. Goodwyn , Dick and the merchant , there had been no one in the bank while the transaction was going on . `` You are quite positive about that , Richard -- you three were the only ones in the building during that noon half-hour , you say -- not another soul about ? '' he continued to say , watching the boy keenly . `` Except Mr. Hollister , sir , '' replied Dick . The cashier started as if he had been shot , and turned red ; he had apparently quite forgotten that little point , which , after all , might have some bearing on the explanation of the puzzle .