e can be no compromise
between right and wrong. On the other hand--well, false accusations
never yet downed an honest man."

He was entirely unconscious that he was quoting Blatch Ferguson.
Impulsively Cristy held out her hand, her eyes glowing.

"I am glad to hear you say that," she said softly. "Somehow, I felt
that you would take it--that way."

"There is one thing I cannot force myself to believe," he asserted
confidently, "and that is that Uncle Milt would have any dealings with
this man, Rives. That seems to discredit----"

"I think perhaps you have misunderstood part of it," interrupted
Stiles. "Miss Lawson didn't mean that Rives was mixed up with your
uncle. He's in with Nickleby, but I don't think Mr. Waring knows that
for a minute. From what Rives and Nickleby said I think they're
planning to give the deal away and get Mr. Waring into trouble--after
they get away themselves to a safe place, y'understand. The deal's
between Nickleby and your uncle, Mr. Kendrick. It was Rives who told
Nickleby they'd leave Mr. Waring 'holding the sack.' That was the way
he put it. I don't know whether Rives is going to be at this meeting
or not; but't aint likely."

"And when did you say this meeting was?--the twenty-seventh?"

"About midnight--that was exactly what Nickleby said."

Phil turned quickly to the girl.

"And do you know what day this is?" he demanded.

"Wednesday--the twenty-seventh," she said calmly.

"Then, to-night--Listen, Miss Lawson. Do I understand that you believe
an actual transfer of cash or negotiable securities will take place in
connection with this thing--_to-night_?"

"Unless the date has been changed--yes. Jimmy overheard Nickleby say
he had arranged it that way. It is not likely that the date has been
changed, once Jimmy was safely out of the way; Nickleby and Rives would
be only too keen to get it over with before some hitch occurred."

"Then we're too late!" cried Phil in excitement.

"I do not expect you to help me, Mr. Kendrick, but I do expect that
your sense of fair play will prevent you from attempting to detain me."

"Detain you? I don't understand, Miss Lawson. I am ready to help you
in every way I can to prevent this thing. I would be anyway, but with
these two criminals planning deliberately to get my uncle--why, there's
nothing we can do at this late date----"

"There's the telegraph wire. What time is it now?"

"Not quite ten o'clock," answered Phil,