ick," he said; "thank you. I wish--I wish--"

His voice seemed to die away. Laverick glanced towards him,
wondering at the unfinished sentence. Once again the man's face
seemed to be convulsed with horror. He flung himself face downward
upon the bed and tore at the sheets with both his hands.

"Don't be a fool," Laverick said sternly. "If you've anything on
your mind apart from business, tell me about it and I'll do what
I can to help you."

Morrison made no reply. He was sobbing now like a child. Laverick
rose to his feet and went to the window. What was to be done with
such a creature! When he got back, Morrison had raised himself once
more into a sitting posture. His appearance was absolutely spectral.

"Laverick," he said feebly, "there is something else, but I cannot
tell you--I cannot tell any one."

"Just as you please, of course," Laverick answered. "I am simply
anxious to help you."

"You can do that as it is!" Morrison exclaimed feverishly. "You
must promise me something--promise that if any one asks for me
to-morrow before I get away, you will not tell them where I am.
Say you suppose that I am at my rooms, or that I have gone into
the country for a few days. Say that you are expecting me back.
Don't let any one know that I have gone abroad, until I am safely
away. And then don't tell a soul where I have gone."

"Have you been up to any tricks with your friends?" Laverick asked
sternly.

"I haven't--I swear that I haven't," Morrison declared. "It's
something quite outside business--quite outside business altogether."

"Very well," answered Laverick, "I will promise what you have asked,
then. Listen--here is your sister back again," he added, as he
heard the taxicab stop outside. "Pull yourself together and don't
frighten her so much. I am going down to meet her. I shall tell
her that you are better. Try and buck up when she comes in to see
you."

"I'll do my best," Morrison said humbly. "If you knew! If you
only knew!"

He began to sob again. Laverick left the room and, descending the
stairs, met the girl in the hall. Her white face questioned him
before her lips had time to frame the speech.

"Your brother is very much better," Laverick said. "I am sure that
you need not be anxious about him."

"I am so glad," she murmured. "They let me off but I had to pay a
fine. I had no idea before that I was so important. Shall I go to
him now?"

"One moment," Laverick ans