. Suddenly she
drew her hand back and sat up on the floor, looking at the package.
"Why, it's for use in the convention!" she exclaimed.

She did not move for several minutes; when she did, it was to examine
the time lock, to reset it, to close the door and bolt it and throw the
lock off the combination. Then she rose and slowly descended to the
library. As she reappeared, empty-handed, Culver started violently and
scrutinized her face. Its expression put him in a panic. "Mrs.
Dumont!" he exclaimed wildly.

"Has it been stolen?"

She shook her head. "No," she said. "It's there."

Trembling from weakness in the reaction, he leaned against the table,
wiping his sweating brow with sweating hands.

"But," she went on, "it must stay there."

He looked open-mouthed at her.

"You have brought the money out here for use in the convention," she
went on with perfect calmness. "You have tried to make me a partner in
that vile business. And--I refuse to play the part assigned me. I
shall keep the money until the convention is over."

He looked round like a terror-stricken drowning man, about to sink for
the last time.

"I'm ruined! I'm ruined!" he almost screamed.

"No," she said, still calm. "You will not be ruined, though you
deserve to be. But I understand why you have become callous to the
commonplace decencies of life, and I shall see to it that no harm comes
to you."

"Mr. Dumont will--DESTROY me! You don't realize, Mrs. Dumont. Vast
property interests are at stake on the result of this
convention--that's our cause. And you are imperiling it!"

"Imperiling a cause that needs lies and bribes to save it?" she said
ironically. "Please calm yourself, Mr. Culver. You certainly can't be
blamed for putting your money in a safe place. I take the
responsibility for the rest. And when you tell Mr. Dumont exactly what
happened, you will not be blamed or injured in any way."

"I shall telegraph him at once," he warned her.

"Certainly," said Pauline. "He might blame you severely for failing to
do that."

He paused in his pacing up and down the room. He flung his arms toward
her, his eyes blazing.

"I WILL have it!" he exclaimed. "Do you hear me, I WILL! I'll bring
men from down-town and have the safe blown open. The money is not
yours--it is----"

She advanced to the bell.

"Another word, Mr. Culver, and I'll have the servants show you the
door. Yours is a strange courage--to dare to speak