yes. such is the understanding if i do not telephone my pals to hold off. he's not at home; he's with my friends. they don't care very much about old men, and if i have not a decent show of money by half-past eleven this morning the orders are to knock him on the head. it won't take a very hard knock. he was far from being in prime condition this morning."

she had shown great feeling at the beginning of this address, but at its close she drew herself up again and met him with something of her old composure.

"these are all lies," said she. "my father would never leave his house[114] at the instigation of any gang. in the first place, he is not strong enough to attempt the stairs. you cannot deceive me in this fashion."

"he might be carried down."

"he wouldn't submit to that, nor would the other lodgers in the house allow it without an express order from me."

"they got the order; not from you, but from him. he demanded to be allowed to go. you see, mr. fellows sent a message that you were hurt—i will speak the whole truth, and say dying. the old man could not be held after that. he went with the messenger."

her cheeks were now like ashes. she had gauged the man before her and felt that he was fully capable of this villainy. how great a villainy she alone knew who had the history of this old[115] man in her heart.

"he went with the messenger," repeated johnson, watching her face with a cruel leer. "that messenger knew where to take him. you may be sure it was to a place quite unknown to the police and to every one else but myself. five minutes more gone, miss. in just twenty-five minutes more you will be an orphan and one impediment to your marriage will be at an end. how about the other?"

"oh!" she wailed. "if i could really believe you!"

"i can smooth away that doubt. if you will promise not to compromise me with the clerks or any one inside there, i will allow you to telephone home and learn the truth of what i have told you. anything further will end all business between us and wind up your father's affairs at the hour set. i[116] can afford to humor you for ten minutes more in this nonsense."

"i will do it," she cried. "i must know what i am fighting before——" she caught herself back, but he was quite able to finish the sentence for her.

"before you submit to the inevitable," he smiled.

her head fell and he pointed toward the door.

"i will trust you to guard my—our interests," said he. "open and go directly to your own telephone."

with a staggering step she obeyed. creeping up stealthily behind her he watched her manner of opening the door and profited by the one quick glance he got of the office as she stepped through and passed hurriedly forward to her desk. there was no one within sight. mr. fellows had not yet returned and the clerks were too remote to notice her agitation or pay attention to her gait or the tremulousness of her tone as she called for her home number.

"couldn't be better," thought he. "now if fellows will stay away long enough, i'll be able to double the boodle i've promised myself." this with a chuckle.

meantime miss lee had got in her message. the answer sent her flying toward him.

"he's gone! he's gone!" she gasped. "my old, old father! oh, you wretch! save him and——"

"you save me first," he whispered, and was about to draw her back into the room with the safe, when the outer door opened and a stranger entered on business.

her agony at the interruption and the few necessary words it involved caused the visitor to stare. but she[118] was able to make herself intelligible and to turn him over to one of the clerks, after which she rejoined johnson, closing the door quietly behind her.

his greeting was characteristic.

"you waste breath," said he, "by all this emotion. you'll need it to open the safe."

"what guarantee have i that you will keep your part of the contract?" she cried. "i sing—the door opens—you help yourself, and you go. that does not restore to me my father."

"oh, i'll play fair. in proof of it, here's my pistol. if on our going out i do not stop with you at the telephone and let you communicate with your father and send my own message of release, then shoot me in the back. i give you leave."

taking the pistol he held out, she cocked it, and looking into the chambers, found they were all full.

"i know how to use it," she said simply.

admiration showed in his face. he bowed and pointed toward the tube.

"now for the song," he cried.