stered by his wife, that he was rather a
handsome fellow. True, years of steaming had given to his complexion a
look not unlike that of an evaporated apple, but this small defect was
more than offset by a luxuriant brown mustache which he had trained
carefully. His hair was sleek and neatly trimmed, and he used his brown
eyes effectively upon occasions. His long hands with their supple
fingers were markedly white, also from the steaming process. Being tall
and of approximately correct proportions, his ready-made clothes fitted
him excellently--as a matter of fact, Vernon Wentz would have passed for
a "gent" anywhere.

Not unmindful of the presence of Mr. Pantin, of whom he secretly stood
in awe, although he knew of his own knowledge that Pantin sheared his
collars, Wentz swung about in his office chair and said abruptly:

"Didn't expect I'd have to send for you."

Kate's troubled eyes were fixed upon him.

"I had nothing to come for."

It pleased Mr. Wentz to regard her with a smile of tolerant amusement.

"Don't know anything about finance, do you?"

"I've never had any business to attend to. I will learn, though."

Wentz smiled enigmatically. Then, brusquely:

"We might as well come to the point and have it over--do you know them
sheep's mortgaged?"

"I knew," hesitatingly, "that Uncle Joe had borrowed for our expenses,
but I didn't know how he did it."

"That's how he did it," curtly. "And the mortgage includes the leases
and the whole bloomin' outfit."

"But he only borrowed a few hundred," she ventured.

"We require ample security," importantly.

"What is it you want of me?" Kate's voice trembled slightly. The import
of the interview was beginning to dawn upon her.

Wentz cleared his throat and announced impressively:

"There was a meeting of the directors called yesterday and it was
decided that the bank must have its money."

She cried aghast:

"I haven't it, Mr. Wentz!"

"Then there's only one alternative."

"You mean ship the sheep?"

Wentz stroked his mustache.

"That's about the size of it."

"But sheep are way down," she protested. "It would take almost the two
bands at present to pay off the debt and shipping expenses."

"That's not our funeral."

"And the leases are of no value without stock for them."

Mr. Wentz lowered his silken lashes and suggested smoothly as he
continued to caress the treasured growth gently:

"Neifkins might be induced to take the leases off your h