every cent he had
misappropriated. And we found that note in his safe after his death.
That was what first aroused our suspicions. _Now_, Captain Warren, do
you understand?"

Captain Elisha did not understand, that was evident. His look of
wondering amazement traveled from one face to the others about the
table.

"A _note_!" he repeated. "'Bije put his _note_ in the safe? A note
promisin' to pay all he'd stole! And left it there where it could be
found? Why, that's pretty nigh unbelievable, Mr. Sylvester! He might
just as well have confessed his crookedness and be done with it."

"Yes. It is unbelievable, but it is true. Graves can show you the note."

The junior partner produced a slip of paper from the portfolio and
regarded it frowningly.

"Of all the pieces of sheer lunacy," he observed, "that ever came under
my observation, this is the worst. Here it is, Captain Warren."

He extended the paper. Captain Elisha waved it aside.

"I don't want to see it--not yet," he protested. "I want to think. I
want to get at the reason if I can. Why did he do it?"

"That is what we've been tryin' to find--the reason," remarked Kuhn,
"and we can only guess. Sylvester has told you the guess. Rodgers Warren
intended, or hoped, to make restitution before he died."

"Yes. Knowin' 'Bije, I can see that. He was weak, that was his main
trouble. He didn't mean to be crooked, but his knees wa'n't strong
enough to keep him straight when it come to a hard push. But he made his
note payable to a Company that was already sold out, so it ain't good
for nothin'. Now, why--"

Graves struck the table with his open hand.

"He doesn't understand at all," he exclaimed, impatiently. "Captain
Warren, listen! That note is made payable to the Akrae Company.
Against that company some unknown stockholder has an apparent claim
for two-fifths of all dividends ever paid and two-fifths of the seven
hundred and fifty thousand received for the sale. With accrued interest,
that claim amounts to over five hundred thousand dollars."

"Yes, but--"

"That note binds Rodgers Warren's estate to pay that claim. His own
personal estate! And that estate is not worth over four hundred and
sixty thousand dollars! If this stockholder should appear and press his
claim, _your brother's children would be, not only penniless, but thirty
thousand dollars in debt_! There! I think that is plain enough!"

He leaned back, grimly satisfied with the effect of his statem