was worth playing for.

"I am John Fox of Colebrook," he said, when Mr. Howard entered the room.
"You may have heard of me."

"I have," answered Mr. Howard, slightly smiling.

"I am the only living relative of Harry Vane, that is, I and my
family."

"I have heard Harry speak of you," said Mr. Howard, non-committally.

"Yes, poor boy! I wish he were alive;" and Mr. Fox drew out a red
bandanna handkerchief and covered his eyes, in which there were no
tears.

"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Howard, startled.

"Then you haven't heard?"

"Heard--what?"

"That he sailed in the ship _Nantucket_, which was lost, with all on
board, in the Southern Ocean?"

It so happened that Mr. Howard had received a letter from Harry after
his arrival in Australia, and so knew that Harry was not lost. For a
moment he thought Mr. Fox might have later information, but saw that it
was not so. He decided to draw Mr. Fox on, and ascertain his object in
calling.

"I hope that this is not so," he said gravely.

"There is not a doubt of it," answered Fox. "There's an account of the
loss of the vessel in the _New York Herald._ I cut it out, and have it
in my pocket-book. Would you like to see it?"

"If you please."

Mr. Fox produced the scrap, and asked triumphantly, "Doesn't that settle
it?"

"Suppose that it does, what then?"

"What then? It follows that Harry's money comes to me and my family, as
the only surviving relatives. You've got money of his, the boy told
me."

"Yes."

"About how much?"

"About three hundred dollars."

"So I thought. That money ought to be handed over to me."

"I don't see that, Mr. Fox."

"You don't see that?" interrogated Fox sharply. "Do you mean to keep it
yourself?"

"Not for my own use; I am not that kind of a man, Mr. Fox. But I have no
authority to hand the money over in the unceremonious way you expect."

"Why not? Isn't the boy dead?"

"I have no proof of it."

"What better proof do you want than the _New York Herald?_"

"The account in the _Herald_ may contain errors."

"Perhaps you think the boy could swim to shore a few hundred miles,"
suggested John Fox with sarcasm.

"No, I don't think that likely."

"Then what possible chance had he to escape?"

"He might have been rescued by a passing vessel."

"Look here, Mr. Howard," said Fox indignantly, "you don't mean what you
say. You evidently mean to keep that money from the lawful claimants. I
am not much surprised. I exp