says that he advised me two years ago that this reef existed,
and wondered why I had never given him authority to bore. I have no
recollection of his ever having told me anything of the sort. Now you
know the position," he said, putting back the letter and closing the
drawer with a bang.

"You want me to wait for a better match," said the girl.

He inclined his head.

"I don't want you to get married for a fortnight," he repeated.

May Nuttall went to bed that night full of doubt and more than a little
unhappy. The story that John Minute told about her father--was it true?
Was it a story invented on the spur of the moment to counter Frank's
plan? She thought of Frank and his almost solemn entreaty. There had
been no mistaking his earnestness or his sincerity. If he would only
take her into his confidence--and yet she recognized and was surprised
at the revelation that she did not want that confidence. She wanted to
help Frank very badly, and it was not the romance of the situation which
appealed to her. There was a large sense of duty, something of that
mother sense which every woman possesses, which tempted her to the
sacrifice. Yet was it a sacrifice?

She debated that question half the night, tossing from side to side. She
could not sleep, and, rising before the dawn, slipped into her dressing
gown and went to the window. The rain had ceased, the clouds had broken
and stood in black bars against the silver light of dawn. She felt
unaccountably hungry, and after a second's hesitation she opened the
door and went down the broad stairs to the hall.

To reach the kitchen she had to pass her uncle's door, and she noticed
that it was ajar. She thought possibly he had gone to bed and left the
light on, and her hand was on the knob to investigate when she heard a
voice and drew back hurriedly. It was the voice of Jasper Cole.

"I have been into the books very carefully with Mackensen, the
accountant, and there seems no doubt," he said.

"You think--" demanded her uncle.

"I am certain," answered Jasper, in his even, passionless tone. "The
fraud has been worked by Frank. He had access to the books. He was the
only person who saw Rex Holland; he was the only official at the bank
who could possibly falsify the entries and at the same time hide his
trail."

The girl turned cold and for a moment swayed as though she would faint.
She clutched the jamb of the door for support and waited.

"I am half inclined to your be