ker to produce one customer who can show a profit after three
consecutive years of speculation.

STERLING. Oh, you're too conservative; nothing venture, nothing have.
Excuse me, I think Jeffreys and Fitzsimmons more amusing topics. Come
along.

[STERLING _and_ DR. STEINHART _join the other group Right._

MASON. [_To_ WARDEN.] You're Sterling's broker.

WARDEN. No, not for over a year.

MASON. Then you can't tell me how deep he is in this Hudson Electric
swindle?

WARDEN. Is he in it at all?

MASON. Yes, he says, deep.

WARDEN. I suspected it yesterday.

MASON. But what with--his wife's money?

WARDEN. That went fourteen months ago. I put him on his feet then, gave
him some tips that enabled him to take this house with her mother, so
that with his regular law business he ought to have done very well, but
his living could not leave one cent over to speculate with.

MASON. [_To himself._] Good God!

WARDEN. I know what you're afraid of.

MASON. No!

WARDEN. Yes. The reason I'm no longer his broker is he was ashamed to
let me know about his dealings.

MASON. But you don't mean you think he'd actually _steal_!

WARDEN. His _aunt's_ money? Why not? _He did his wife's!_

MASON. Does he handle any one else's affairs?

WARDEN. I know he takes care of that Godesby woman's property.

MASON. And she wouldn't hold her tongue if a crash came!

WARDEN. Not for a minute! Is Miss Hunter suspicious?

MASON. Yes. Does Sterling realize that to-morrow he will most probably
be a ruined cheat?

WARDEN. Very likely.

MASON. If he made up his mind to-night it was all up with him, he might
do--what?

WARDEN. Run away with whatever money he has left, or kill himself. I
don't know if he's enough of a coward for that or not. There's _one_
hold on him--he loves his wife.

MASON. Which will make him all the more ashamed of discovery. Do you
believe she suspects?

WARDEN. Not a bit. She loves him too dearly.

MASON. Can _we_ do anything?

WARDEN. Nothing but watch him closely till the people go. Then force him
to make a clean breast of it, so we can all know where we stand; how we
can best protect his aunt from ruin and his wife and boy from public
disgrace.

MASON. He is watching us.

WARDEN. He knows I know him; we must be careful. He's coming toward us.
[_He then speaks in a different tone, but no louder._] You're certain of
the trustworthiness of your information?

MASON. Absolutely. Every man left in tha