As he moved in and out among the men, too, he had caught
murmurs of a charge of embezzlement that in his present condition
filled him with shame and fear. If the thing could be staved off for a
month he could make it right, but he knew well that the gang would give
him as little respite as they could. Indeed, it was only Sergeant
Crisp's refusal to entertain any formal charge while Shock's life was
in danger, that had saved The Don so far. But while Sergeant Crisp had
stood between him and his enemies thus far, he knew that a day of
reckoning must come, far the Sergeant was not a man to allow
considerations of friendship to interfere with duty. With Sergeant
Crisp duty was supreme.

But more than The Don was Shock anxious to have this matter of the
hospital funds cleared up, and he only waited an opportunity to speak
to The Don about it. The opportunity was forced on him unexpectedly.

One day, as he lay apparently asleep, the Sergeant called The Don into
the next room. Through the paper and cotton partition their voices came
quite clearly.

"I have been wanting to speak to you about a matter," the Sergeant
said, with some degree of hesitation, "Hickey's friends are saying
nasty things about you."

"What do you mean?" said The Don, knowing only too well.

"About the hospital funds, you know. In fact, they are saying--"

At this point the nurse came running in.

"Mr. Macgregor wants you, doctor, at once," she cried, and The Don
hurried in to him.

"Go and tell the Sergeant to wait," Shock said to the nurse, and she
went out leaving The Don alone with him.

"Don," said Shock, "I know all about it. Don't speak. Here," taking the
roll of bills from under his pillow, "here is the hospital money.
Quick! Don't ask questions now. Go to the Sergeant. Go! go!"

"Nothing wrong?" asked the Sergeant anxiously, when The Don had
returned.

"Oh, no," said The Don. "Nothing serious. You were speaking about some
hospital funds?"

"Why, yes, the fact is, they are--it's an ugly thing to say--they are
charging you with misappropriation of those funds."

"Oh, they are?" said The Don, who had by this time got back his nerve.
"Well, Sergeant, let them come on. The accounts will be ready. And,
indeed, I shall be glad to turn over the funds to yourself now. Excuse
me a moment." He went to his desk and brought out a pass book. "This
shows all the subscriptions, about two hundred dollars, I think. And
here," he said, drawing the b