ting for them in
the library.

"It's all right!" said Evan.

A look of beatific relief overspread the other's face. He immediately
began to swell. "That is most gratifying! most gratifying!" he said
pompously. "I am really under obligations to you, Weir. We both are,
aren't we, Papa?"

"Sure, Evan's a good boy. I always said so. I bought him a cigar."

"Tcha! A cigar! I should really like to do something for you, Weir."

"You can raise my salary if you want," said Evan slyly.

A comical transformation took place in both faces. "What! Raise your
salary! Again! Impossible!" both cried.

Evan laughed. "Well, you proposed doing something for me."

Someone else in that house had bought a copy of the _Clarion_. Mrs.
George Deaves entered in what was for her a high good humour with a
copy of the sheet under her arm.

"Well, I see you sent the money," she said.

George Deaves looked self-conscious. He greatly desired to lie, but
lacked the effrontery to do so before the other men. His father saved
him the trouble of doing so. Eager to get back at Maud he said:

"No, he didn't!"

Mrs. Deaves' face fell. The black eyes began to snap. Another storm
portended. "You promised me----" she began.

"But you see we were right," interrupted her husband. "It was a bluff.
There's nothing in the paper."

"You don't know it's a bluff!" she cried. "Perhaps they were too late
for the paper. It will be in to-morrow. You have got to send the
money at once as you promised!"

But George Deaves' momentary relief had put a little backbone into him.
"I still think it a bluff!" he said doggedly. "I'm willing to take a
chance."

The storm broke. "Oh, you're willing, are you? How about me? How
about me? Here you sit all day. What do you know about how people
talk? I have to go about. I have to see people smile when they think
I'm not looking and whisper behind their hands. Do you think I don't
know what they're saying? Oh, I know! 'That's Mrs. George Deaves, my
dear. Wife of the son of the notorious miser. You've heard how he
squabbles in the street with newsboys and fruit vendors over pennies!'
Well, I've had enough of it! Enough, I say! I won't stand it!"

In the full course of her tirade she happened to look at Evan. Evan's
suspicion had become almost a certainty. His eyes were bent steadily
upon her. He was not smiling, but there was an ironical lift to the
corners of his mouth.

She p