agg."

"Oh--ho!" with a low whistle of astonishment. "Nan Cragg, eh! So you've
returned from your wanderings, have you?" with a derisive sneer.

"For a time. But in wandering around I've found my place in the world
and I'm now a lady detective, not an especially high-class occupation
but satisfactory as a bread-winner. I find I'm quite talented; I'm said
to be a pretty fair detective."

She could feel him tremble beside her. He moved away from her as far as
he could but the pressure against his side followed his movements.
After a time he asked defiantly:

"Well, being a detective, what's your business with me? I hope you're
not fool enough to think I'm a criminal."

"I don't think it; I know it. You're an unusual sort of a criminal,
too," she replied. "You're mixed up in a somewhat lawless international
plot, but it isn't my present business to bring you to book for that."

"What _is_ your present business?"

"To discover what you've done with my father's money."

He laughed, as if relieved.

"Spent it for the cause of Ireland."

"Part of it, perhaps. But the bulk of the money you've taken from the
Champions of Irish Liberty, most of which came out of my father's own
pocket, and practically all the money he gave you to invest for him,
you have withheld for your own use."

"You're crazy!"

"I know the bank it's deposited in."

Again he growled, like a beast at bay.

"Whatever I have on deposit is to be applied to the Cause," said he.
"It's reserved for future promotion."

"Have you seen to-day's papers?" she inquired.

"No."

"The revolution in Ireland has already broken out."

"Great Scott!" There was sincere anxiety in his voice now.

"It is premature, and will result in the annihilation of all your
plans."

"Perhaps not."

"You know better," said she. "Anyhow, your actions are now blocked
until we see how the rebellion fares. The Irish will have no further
use for American money, I'm positive, so I insist that my father
receive back the funds he has advanced you, and especially his own
money which he gave you to invest and you never invested."

"Bah! If I offered him the money he wouldn't take it.

"Then I'll take it for him," she asserted. "You'll give up that money
because you know I can have you arrested for--well, let us say a breach
of American neutrality. You are not a citizen of the United States. You
were born in Ireland and have never been naturalized here."

"You seem well po