cashier for Dalton & Company. I
heard they were going to put experts upon my books, Dicky. I didn't want
to go to jail. I would have disgraced Kate. I knew you loved her and
would not want her mother to be arrested. I had to have that money.
I told you the story about the stocks. So I was saved from being
disgraced."

"Oh, you were?" His eyes flamed so furiously that she turned her gaze
from him.

"And now I feel better, for I have confided in you and you're going
to be my good and true friend from now on. It will be made up to you,
Dicky."

"What had you done with all that money you took from Dalton & Company?"

"It costs so much to live--and keep up the position I had when Andrew
was alive! A woman needs so many things, Richard. I have always been
proud. I was obliged to--"

He swore and swung away from her. "Wasted it on dress and jewelry! You
turned the trick on one man and put him underground. And I'm the next
victim! I knew I was being played for a sucker, but, oh--"

He battered his fists against the wall in pure ecstasy of rage. Then he
sat down and put his face in his hands.

The woman clucked sobs which did not ring true.

"I wonder what Kate would say if she knew how I had come to the scratch.
She knew her father was a hero. I wonder whether she would think I am
one!" he said, after silence had continued for a long time.

"Are you going to tell her?" the mother gasped.

"I love her too much. But, see here! Do you think I picked that five
thousand off a rose-bush?"

"You told me your uncle loaned it to you."

"You think I got it easy--got it for the asking, and that's why you have
been loafing on the job," he said, with bitterness. "Ask my uncle for
money? I should say not. He never loosened for anybody yet--not even his
relatives. Mrs. Kilgour, I love your daughter so much--I was so anxious
to help you--I stole that five thousand from the state treasury. I have
been covering it in my accounts for more than a year--hell all the time
with plenty of white-hot when the legislative committee has been over
the accounts. Some day some blasted fool will wake up enough to see that
there's a hole in my figures."

He put his elbows on his knees and stared at the carpet. The woman's
face grew white.

"That's how it stands with me, Mrs. Kilgour. You know you were not
square with me at the start. You said you needed the money for only a
few weeks--you said you were pinched in a stock deal. You lied to me.