dily enough, but I don't always know what I am doing--"

"That's so, Sir," said Dunn quickly, "I've seen him."

"--And just what happened with these cheques I do not know. This
cheque," picking up the one endorsed to Potts, "I remember giving to
Potts. The only other cheque I remember is a five-pound one."

"Do you remember cashing that five-pound cheque?" inquired Mr. Rae.

"I carried it about for some days. I remember that, because I once
offered it to Potts in part payment, and he said--" the white face
suddenly flushed a deep red.

"Well, Mr. Allan, what did he say?"

"It doesn't matter," said Cameron.

"It may and it may not," said Mr. Rae sharply. "It is your duty to tell
us."

"Out with it," said his father angrily. "You surely owe it to me, to us
all, to let us have every assistance."

Cameron paid no attention to his father's words. "It has really no
bearing, Sir, but I remember saying as I offered a five-pound cheque, 'I
wish it was fifty.'"

"And what reply did Mr. Potts make?" said Mr. Rae, with quiet
indifference, as if he had lost interest in this particular feature of
the case.

Again Cameron hesitated.

"Come, out with it!" said his father impatiently.

His son closed his lips as if in a firm resolve. "It really has nothing
whatever to do with the case."

"Play the game, old man," said Dunn quietly.

"Oh, all right!" said Cameron. "It makes no difference anyway. He said
in a joke, 'You could easily make this fifty; it is such mighty poor
writing.'"

Still Mr. Rae showed no sign of interest. "He suggested in a joke, I
understand, that the five-pound cheque could easily be changed into
fifty pounds. That was a mere pleasantry of Mr. Potts', doubtless. How
did the suggestion strike you, Mr. Allan?"

Allan looked at him in silence.

"I mean, did the suggestion strike you unpleasantly, or how?"

"I don't think it made any impression, Sir. I knew it was a joke."

"A joke!" groaned his father. "Good Heavens! What do you think--?"

"Once more permit me," said Mr. Rae quietly, with a wave of his hand
toward the Captain. "This cheque of five pounds has evidently been
altered to fifty pounds. The question is, by whom, Mr. Allan? Can you
answer that?" Again Mr. Rae's eyes were searching the young man's face.

"I have told you I remember nothing about this cheque."

"Is it possible, Mr. Allan, that you could have raised this cheque
yourself without your knowing--?"

"Oh, nonsense!" said