means us personal harm?" he said.

Evan smiled to himself, seeing the size of their enemy. "Well, I
hardly think so," he said. "At least not as long as we seem disposed
to pay up."

Deaves was received at the bank with extreme deference. He was not
obliged to apply at the teller's window like a common customer, but was
shown directly into the manager's office which looked on the pavement
of the Avenue. A fine-meshed screen protected the occupants of the
room from the vulgar gaze of the populace, but those inside could see
out, and as soon as they entered the room Evan discovered the youth in
the grey suit hanging about the door of the bank, unaware of the
nearness of his victims.

Deaves introduced Evan to the manager as "My father's secretary." "I'm
coming up in the world," thought Evan. Five crisp one-thousand-dollar
bills were produced, and Evan perceived strong curiosity in the bank
manager's eye. It had been agreed between Evan and Deaves that this
man was to be taken partly into their confidence, but Deaves now seemed
disposed to balk at it, and Evan ventured to take matters into his own
hands.

"You were going to tell this gentleman what the money was for."

"Yes, yes, of course," said Deaves nervously. "You will of course
appreciate the necessity of absolute secrecy, sir."

"That is part of my business," said the manager.

But Deaves still boggled at the horrid word, and it was Evan who said:
"Somebody is trying to blackmail Mr. Deaves."

"Good gracious!" cried the horrified manager. "Mr. Simeon Deaves or
Mr. George Deaves?"

"Either," said Evan dryly. "They don't care as long as they get the
money."

"Have you notified the police?"

"Not yet. We're going to take a try first at catching them ourselves.
There is one of them outside, the thin youth in the grey suit."

The manager half arose from his chair. "What! So close! Perhaps he's
armed!"

"He can't see us."

The manager sank back only partly reassured. "Can I be of any
assistance?" he asked.

"Yes," said Evan. "I want to mark these bills in your presence."
Deaves handed them over, and the manager supplied a blue pencil. "See!
A tiny dot following the serial number in each case. In case they get
the money, and get away in spite of me, will you please see that all
the banks in town are supplied with the numbers of these bills, and are
instructed to have anyone arrested who presents them to be changed?"

"I certainly wil