ou, Mr. Ferris," he said,
"that a very reputable minority of the community, if not a majority,
will believe that Randall Clayton was waylaid and murdered. Now,
until you can show him up as a thief, I recommend you to use charity
and forbearance. It is my belief that there has been some damnable
foul play here."

The dejected Ferris sat for an hour with his head buried in his hands,
before he dared to answer his girl wife's imperative telegram. "I
must wait here like a tongue-tied dog," he growled.

"Has the will made her a sole legatee? If so, I must work on her
feelings. I was a fool to quarrel with this fellow. He was another
of the school-time playmates!"

When Ferris sneaked out to send a submissive dispatch to his wife,
he was tormented by the stern words of the young orphan's telegram.
"I act under his last wishes. Find Randall Clayton, dead or alive."

"There is trouble ahead," mused Ferris, "and I have made enemies
of all the officials here. But Alice is mine. I hold her in the
hollow of my hand. My wife! That she cannot gainsay."

When he had sent off his message he felt strangely cheered by the
reflection that Worthington probably left ten to fifteen millions
behind him.

"There's enough for all," he cheerily reflected. "I'll let her play
'Miss Millions' a bit, but when the probate proceedings come up,
she'll find a husband is a hard thing to deal with."

He was wandering back to the office, determined to remove at once
all of his private data and personal effects to the Fifth Avenue,
when he stumbled over the policeman on the beat.

Sturdy Dennis McNerney flourished his club in a passing salute.
"Bad business, sir, this of Mr. Clayton," said the stalwart
Irish-American. "Is it true there's twenty-five thousand reward
out?"

With a sudden inspiration Arthur Ferris paused. "Mac," said he, "I
am deeply interested here. I'll give you personally five thousand
dollars more for the first clue; mind you, no publicity."

The policeman's eyes sparkled. "Word of honor?" he said. "Yes!
I'll write it in your presence, seal it, and give it to you--this
promise, if the clue leads to Clayton, dead or alive."

The two men walked along in the streaming crowd. Ferris felt
instinctively that the officer was holding something back.

"What do the reporters say?" hesitating remarked Ferris. "All in
the dark--a pack of fools--unless it's a crime that gives itself
away to any one. They know nothing, and the for