"This is the first I have heard of these transactions," he said.
"You mean -"
"That the signatures are clever forgeries." His statement was heard
with gravity. Taylor exchanged a meaning look with the New Yorker.
"You mean your signature is a forgery," he suggested. "Rochester
had a peculiar gift of penmanship."
Kent sprang up. "Do you accuse Philip Rochester of signing these
checks and inserting my name to them?"
"I do," calmly. "I am not familiar with your signature, Kent, but
that Rochester wrote the body of those four checks and put his own
signature at the bottom I will swear to in any court of law. To
make them valid he had to add your name."
"But, d-mn it, man!" Kent stared in bewilderment at his three
companions. "Rochester was honorable and straight-forward -"
"And addicted to drink," put in Harding. "But not a forger,"
retorted Kent firmly. Harding's only rejoinder was a skeptical
smile as he turned to address Clymer.
"So Rochester not only has taken his own money, but withdrawn that
belonging to the firm of Rochester and Kent without the knowledge
of his junior partner; it looks black, Mr.
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