are capable of taking a bribe if it is large enough.
It may interest you to know that they have already held one
amicable meeting with our leaders, and in the end you are
likely to pay them double. As to finding your son, the men
who have him safe and secure will not hesitate to take his
life the moment they know that they are likely to lose the
game. I do not threaten, but I do assure you that your best
chance of seeing your son alive and in his right mind lies
in your sending me the two words, "We decline," with express
to E. Roe.

'Yours,

'ON THE SQUARE.'

A horrible letter, indeed! and the awful pictures which poor Hilda
O'Neil's excited imagination drew of the possible situations, in some
one of which her lover might be suffering, lent the last touch of
gloom to the wretched whole. She saw him in some dingy cellar, ill
unto death, neglected, helpless, and heartbroken; she saw him drugged
into insanity, a possibility hinted at by the artful writer of the
anonymous letter, and which I had, more than once, considered as both
possible and probable, and she implored Miss Jenrys to help her and
save her lover.

'June, my life, my very life is in your hands! I cannot wait for Mr.
Trent; eight long hours almost! I must act. Papa left me _carte
blanche_ at the bank; I was to draw as I needed, and I will go at
once, as soon as this letter is despatched, and see that the money is
secured and sent to you; and the letter--the promise--Mr. Trent must
make it, and he will. But the answer, June, put that in the paper at
once, so that Gerry may soon know that he is to be released. You won't
refuse, I know; and, June, telegraph me the moment it is done,' etc.

When I had put the letter down, after reading the copied portion
twice, Miss Jenrys asked breathlessly:

'What must be done?'

I put into her hand Mr. Trent's letter, received the previous night,
and when she had read it, she looked troubled.

'He seems to doubt this letter?'

'And so do I.'

'But why? how? It sounds plausible.'

'Too plausible. I must think this matter over. Mind, I do not say the
letter was not written by some dissatisfied member of the band, but
don't you see its weak point? He may wish to leave them, and doubtless
would like to depart with a full pocket; but he would never dare to
release Trent, even if he could. It's simply a t