m from a distance and
was beckoning to him.

The accountant had little glittering eyes. They shone out of his
smooth, round face like boot-buttons from a lump of dough. He fixed
them on the cash-book man.

"Mr. Nelson," he said politely, "I'm sorry to tell you that head office
has just telephoned down and asked for your resignation."

"My resignation!"

"Yes."

"But Mr. Charon, you're not going----"

"It's not my doing at all," said Charon, interrupting; "anything you
have to say had better be told to the manager."

Evan had never been introduced to the manager, but he walked into the
big private office and started saying he scarcely knew what.

"Oh, are you Mr.--er--, the young man whom head office has asked to
resign?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm sorry I cannot do anything for you."

"But won't you tell me why I'm fired?"

The cash-book man gazed fiercely into the manager's eyes. A thought
for his personal safety probably decided the pompous old gentleman to
compromise a little.

"It's on account of that cheque you issued--and--and--"

"And what?"

"And that Banfield affair!"

The truth dawned on Evan. He stood for a moment oblivious of his
surroundings, thinking of his father and mother and friends. He was
suspected. It was worse than Robb had said: he was not only under
disfavor, but under suspicion. Head office had only waited for a
pretext to fire him.

"But I didn't take that money----" he began.

"Those are my instructions," replied the manager, turning to his work.

Evan felt sick. He tried to make the accountant talk, but all Charon
would say was:

"You'll have to grin and bear it."

"Well, can I see the inspector?" asked Evan, in desperation.

"I wouldn't advise you to; it will do no good."

Turning away, the cash-book man entered a telephone booth and called up
Castle.

"This is Mr. Nelson," he said, "of Banfield. Can I see you, sir?"

"No," snapped Castle; "I'm very busy."

"But I want to tell----"

The receiver clicked. Evan was aware of an answering sound somewhere
within himself, as though the ties that bound him to honesty and
good-faith had suddenly snapped.

CHAPTER XVI.

_BLACKBALLED._

During the progress of the drama in which Nelson played so conspicuous
a part and which he regarded as a tragedy, Sam Robb was at the
Receiver-General's exchanging money for the paying-teller. He had not
returned before Evan was gone from the office for good.

"What