"This has gone far enough!" the broker exclaimed. "I'll have to ask you
to leave my office, sir!"

"I expect to do that little thing before long, and you are going with
me," Farland said.

There was a knock at the door.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE TRUTH COMES OUT

Farland did not take his eyes off George Lerton.

"If you have touched a button and called some fool clerk, I'll manhandle
you!" he promised. "Kindly consider yourself a prisoner!"

The knock was repeated, and Farland, still keeping his eyes on the man
at the desk, backed to the door and turned the key. Then he took up a
position where he could continue watching George Lerton and keep an eye
on the door at the same time.

"Come in!" he called.

The door was hurled open. At the same instant, the office boy who had
opened it was thrust aside. Sidney Prale sprang into the private office
and stood glaring at his cousin. Behind him was Murk, and behind Murk
were Kate Gilbert and her maid.

"Quite a gathering!" Farland said, grinning. "I'm glad that you are
here. Kindly close and lock the door, Murk, with that young office
gentleman on the outside!"

Murk obeyed. George Lerton sprang to his feet.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" he demanded. "Has my office
been turned into a rendezvous for maniacs?"

"Sit down!" Sidney Prale cried. He had not taken his eyes off Lerton,
had not even turned to speak to Jim Farland, had not even wondered how
Farland had escaped and come here.

Lerton dropped back into his chair, wetting his thin lips, his eyes
furtive now.

"You miserable cur!" Sidney Prale went on, advancing toward his cousin.
"I should handle this affair myself. I should have you in Honduras, and
fasten you to a tree and beat you until you are senseless."

"These insults----"

"Are deserved, you beast!" Prale cried. "So, when I went away ten years
ago, you sold out Mr. Griffin and put the blame for it on me, did you?
You wrecked that good man's faith in me, turned influential men against
me, had me persecuted when I returned."

Jim Farland gave a shout of delight. "That right, Sid?" he cried, "Then
I have the connecting link! So George Lerton has been causing you all
this trouble, has he? I understand a lot more now. Lerton killed Rufus
Shepley, also!"

"It's a lie! You are trying to save Prale by accusing me!" Lerton cried.

"Why, we've got you, you weak fool!" said Farland. "I knew you in that
old farmhouse despite your mask. Y