XX. The Check 310
XXI. The Jewels 321

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

"TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOURSELF," HE SAID _Frontispiece_

LEADING THE WRONG ONE, THROWING THE WRONG ONE,
MATCHING PASTEBOARDS, THAT WAS ALL 86

HE WENT OUT ON THE EXTREME EDGE, FACED ABOUT,
AND STEPPED TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY PACES 112

IN HER OWN RIGHT

I

BROKEN

"The expected has happened, I see," said Macloud, laying aside the
paper he had been reading, and raising his hand for a servant.

"I thought it was the unexpected that happens," Hungerford drawled,
languidly. "What do you mean?"

"Royster & Axtell have been thrown into bankruptcy. Liabilities of
twenty million, assets problematical."

"You don't say!" ejaculated Hungerford, sitting up sharply. "Have they
caught any of our friends?"

"All who dealt with them, I reckon."

"Too bad! Too bad!--Well, they didn't catch me."

"Oh, no! you're not caught!" said Macloud. "Your father was wise enough
to put your estate into Government threes, with a trustee who had no
power to change the investment."

"And I'm thankful he did," Hungerford answered. "It saves me all
trouble; I need never look at the stock report, don't you know;
Government bonds are always the same.--I suppose it's a reflection on
my ability, but that is of small consequence. I don't care what people
think, so long as I have the income and no trouble. If I had control of
my capital, I might have lost all of it with Royster & Axtell, who
knows?"

Macloud shook his head.

"It isn't likely," he commented, "you wouldn't have had it to lose."

Hungerford's momentarily vague look suddenly became knowing.

"You mean I would have lost it long ago?" he asked. "Oh, I say, old
man, you're a bit hard on me. I may not have much head for business,
but I'm not altogether a fool, don't you know."

"Glad to know it," laughed Macloud, as he arose and sauntered away.

Hungerford drew out his cigarettes and thoughtfully lighted one.

"I wonder--did he mean I am or I am not?" he said. "I wonder. I shall
have to ask him some time.--Boy! a Scotch and soda."

Meanwhile, Macloud passed into the Club-house and, mounting the stairs
to the second floor, knocked sharply at a door in the north-west corner
of the corridor.

"Come in," called a