ll see my
lawyer in a day or two. Meanwhile have your papers, deeds, etc., ready
when he calls for them.

Yours truly,

JAMES W. COLTON.

For a minute I considered. If I could cash the check at the bank without
Taylor's knowledge and get him off to Boston on the early train, I
might be able to cover my tracks. It was necessary that they should be
covered. Knowing George as I did I knew that he would never consent to
my sacrifice. He would not permit me to wreck my future in Denboro to
save him. The money must be turned over to the Boston bankers and
the bank's bonds once more in the vault where they belonged before he
learned where that money came from. Then it would be too late to refuse
and too late to undo what had been done. He would have to accept and
I might be able to prevail upon him to keep silent regarding the whole
affair. I disliked the check with Colton's name upon it; I should have
much preferred the cash; but cash, it seemed, could not be had without
considerable delay, and with that bank examiner's visit imminent
every moment of time was valuable. I folded the check, put it in my
pocketbook, and, hastily scribbling a receipt in pencil at the bottom
of Colton's note, replaced the latter in the envelope and handed it to
Johnson, who departed.

Entering the dining-room I found Dorinda and Lute at the window, peering
after the butler.

"By time!" exclaimed Lute, "if I didn't know I should say he was a
bigger big-bug than old Colton himself. Look how he struts! He sartin is
a dignified lookin' man. I don't see how he ever come to be just hired
help."

"Um-hm," sniffed the cynical Mrs. Rogers. "Well; you can get an awful
lot of dignity for its board and lodgin'! There's nothin' much more
dignified or struts much better'n a rooster, but it's the hens that lay
the eggs. What did he want, Roscoe?"

I made some excuse or other for Mr. Johnson's early call and, taking
my cap from the rack, hurried from the house. I went "across lots" and,
running a good part of the way, reached the bank just as Sam Wheeler was
sweeping out. He expressed surprise at my early arrival and wished to
know what was up.

"Ain't nothin' wrong, is there, Ros?" asked Sam anxiously. "I saw by the
paper that the market was feverish again yesterday."

Sam was an ambitious youth and, being desirous of becoming a banker in
the shortest possible time, read the financial page with conscientious
thoroughness. I assured him that the ma