er from those
blackguards, a--a most dreadful letter!"

"Already?" said Evan.

"And so I came to you at once."

"You will pardon me," said Evan coolly, "but I do not yet see why you
should come to me about it--after the manner of our parting."

"I had no one else to go to," said Deaves helplessly.

In spite of himself Evan was a little touched. "Let me see the
letter," he said, holding out his hand.

Deaves passed it over and Evan read:

"Mr. George Deaves:

Dear Mr. Deaves:

Our enterprise has had its exciting side. We'd be willing to keep it
up indefinitely for the pure fun of the thing were it not that it is so
expensive. I mean, a large part of our takings is swallowed up in the
inevitable charges. This leads us to offer you an alternative plan.

Under the present scheme we will assess you this season about forty
thousand dollars, and an equal amount, or more, next year. Now we
propose to save you money and ourselves trouble by asking you to endow
the Ikunahkatsi once and for all. Four hundred thousand dollars is the
sum required. At five per cent this is only twenty thousand a year, so
you see you would save a clear half. On our part we would bind
ourselves not to ask you to advance us any further sums of money on any
pretext whatsoever. You will concede that heretofore we have
scrupulously kept all our engagements with you. To put it humorously,
it will cost you four hundred thousand dollars to get rid of us for
good. Isn't it worth it? Especially now that the old gentleman has
lost his efficient guardian.

We will give you until Sunday morning to think it over. If you agree
to our proposal hang a flag from the pole that juts from the second
story of your house, and we will send you instructions how to proceed.
We are sure you will agree, but if you do not, we have further
arguments to offer you.

Yours very sincerely,
THE IKUNAHKATSI."

"Same old humourist!" said Evan grimly.

"And only the day before I sent them five thousand!" groaned Deaves.

"Just the same this is a confession of weakness," said Evan. "I see
that clearly. The game is getting too difficult for them."

"What would you advise me to do?"

"Ignore that letter."

"But--but what do you suppose they mean by 'further arguments'?"

"I don't know. Make them show their hand."

"Do you suppose they contemplate--er--personal violence?"

"They may intend to threaten it."

Deaves shuddered. "Suppose they t