father is----"

"He'll be back in just a little while!" interrupted Alice, briskly. "Did
he tell you to come here?"

"Nope! I told myself!" replied the man. "I'm glad I did, too. This is
nice place and you're nice girls, too. Sisters, I take it?"

"You need not discuss us!" exclaimed Ruth with dignity. "If you will
leave word what your business with my father is I will have him call on
you."

"What, leave? Me leave? Nothin' doin', sister. I'm too comfortable
here," and he leaned back in the chair and laughed foolishly.

"What--what did you want to see Mr. DeVere about?" inquired Ruth, though
she could well guess.

"I'll tell you what it's about," said Dan Merley, confidentially. "It's
about money. I want five hundred dollars from your father, and I want it
quick--with interest, too. Don't forget that."

"My father paid you that money!" Ruth declared, with boldness.

"He did not!" denied the unpleasant visitor. "He owes it to me yet, and
I want it. And, what's more I'm going to have it!"

"That is unfair--unjust!" said Ruth, and there was a trace of tears in
her voice. "My father paid you the money, and you promised to give him
back the note--the paper that showed you had loaned it to him. But you
never did."

"How do you know all this?" he asked.

"Because my father was just telling us about it--a little while ago. He
said you had--forgotten."

"Yes, I know! He said I'd been drinking too much; didn't he?"

Ruth and Alice drew further back, offended by his coarse language.

"He--he said you were not--quite yourself," spoke Alice gently.

"Oh ho! Another one! So there's two of you here!" laughed the man.
"Well, this certainly is a nice place. I guess I'll stay until the boss
comes back. That is, unless you have the five hundred dollars here, and
want to pay me," he added, with a sickly grin.

"You have been paid once," Ruth insisted.

"I have not--I never was paid!" Dan Merley cried. "I want my money and
I'm going to have it! Do you hear? I'm going to have it, and have it
soon! You tell your father that from me!" and he banged his fist on the
table.

Ruth and Alice looked at each other. The same thought was in both their
minds, and it shone from their eyes. They must leave at once--the door
was slightly open.

"No more monkey business!" cried the unwelcome caller. "I lent your
father that money and he never paid me back. He may say he did; but he
can't prove it. I hold his note, and if he doesn't