ow for any of that."

"Five hundred! My, that seems a fortune to me. Where did ye get it?
Steal it?"

Donaster shot a quick startled look at his companion as if he would
read his mind. Then he gave a nervous laugh.

"Never mind where I got it," he warded. "Don't ask too many questions."

Grimsby leaned across the table and looked keenly at his victim.

"I won't ask any more questions, sir. But I believe you are a bigger
rogue than I imagined. It's even necessary for me to be on my guard.
How much money have you on hand now?"

"About fifty dollars."

"That's good. I'll take half, according to our agreement."

Donaster hesitated for a few seconds, but at length pulled a roll of
bills from his pocket and counted out twenty-five dollars.

"Now, make me out a cheque for half of what you have in the bank,"
Grimsby ordered as he pocketed the money. "I want to draw it as soon
as the bank opens in the morning."

Donaster at first protested, but Grimsby was firm, and threatened what
he would do.

"I shall give you just five minutes to do what I wish," he told him.
"Otherwise, I shall go at once to Mrs. Randall. Make up your mind, and
be quick about it."

Very reluctantly Donaster obeyed, and made out a cheque payable to
Gabriel Grimsby. The latter held it in his hand and studied it
carefully for a few minutes after he had received it. He smiled as he
looked at Donaster. "We are getting along nicely now, are we not? But
there is something else I want you to do."

"For heaven's sake! what is it?" Donaster angrily and impatiently asked.

"Give me a piece of paper and a pen: I will write it down."

When these were produced, Grimsby wrote rapidly, Donaster watching him
somewhat curiously.

"Listen to this," he ordered when he had finished.

"'One week after the date of my marriage with Miss Randall I promise to
pay Gabriel Grimsby the sum of one thousand dollars for services
rendered.'"

"There, how will that suit you?" he asked, "You'll sign that, of
course. It's just a little inducement to urge me to greater efforts."

Donaster sat for some time in silence. He seemed to be in deep
thought, and his brows knitted with perplexity.

"Do you think you can find Miss Randall?" he at length asked.

"I have no doubt about it," Grimsby replied. "Leave that to me."

"But I want you to do more than find her."

"What do you mean?"

"Yes, you must do more than find her. That will not be enough. You