eck. It is so easy to draw a check--and, then,
somehow, it's only a piece of paper. You let it go without a pang
while you would be very thoughtful if you were counting out the money
and parting with it.

"The check is another way of saying 'Charge it.'

"That evening I went to see Harry."

XII

IN WHICH HARRY IS FORCED TO ABANDON SWAMP FICTION AND LIKE FOLLIES AND
TO STUDY THE GEOGRAPHY AND NATIVES OF A LAND UNKNOWN TO OUR
HEIRISTOCRACY

"I found Harry smoking with Cub Sayles in his den above stairs in the
big country-house of Henry Delance. As I entered Harry said to his
young friend:

"'I have to talk over some things with Mr. Potter--would you mind
going down to the library?'

"Cub withdrew, and Harry sat down with me.

"'I suppose you've seen him?' he asked, nervously.

"'Whom?'

"'Why, you know a mysterious stranger has been looking for me and--by
Jove!--I'm scared stiff. He's an Englishman.'

"'What of that?'

"'Let me show you,' said Harry.

"He took a key from his pocket, unlocked a door, and fetched the
familiar skull of the Bishop of St. Clare and put it on the table
before me.

"'It's that damn Bishop's head,' he whispered. 'It has come
back--would you believe it?--picked up by a fisherman on the Irish
coast and returned to the express office in London. All the old
directions were quite legible on the box. "To Harry Delance, SS.
_Lusitania_. If not found, forward to Pointview, Conn., U.S.A.,
charges collect!" So it came on. I received a notice and went down and
got it out of bond and paid three pounds, and here it is.'

"'It looks as if the Bishop was out for revenge,' I said, with a
laugh.

"'He's got on my nerves and my conscience,' said Harry. 'By Jove! he
haunts me. When I heard of this mysterious Englishman to-day I got a
chill.'

"'You go buy yourself a small shovel and a pocket light to-morrow,' I
suggested, and at night go back in the hills with the Bishop's head
and bury it.'

"'And if I get into trouble I want you to take care of me.'

"I made no answer. It didn't seem necessary, but I said: 'There's
another matter of which I have come to talk with you. Our friend Roger
is in trouble.'

"I told him the story of Roger's downfall. It got under his vest, and
I added: 'Now, Harry, it's up to you to indulge in some more
philanthropy. You ought to help him.'

"'What--what can I do?' he asked in amazement.

"'Lend him the money--twenty thousand dollars. It isn't al