lief," said John Minute slowly. "It is
awful to believe that Frank is a forger, as his father was--awful!"

"It is pretty ghastly," said Jasper's voice, "but it is true."

The girl flung open the door and stood in the doorway.

"It is a lie!" she cried wrathfully. "A horrible lie--and you know it is
a lie, Jasper!"

Without another word, she turned, slamming the door behind her.

CHAPTER IX

FRANK MERRILL AT THE ALTAR

Frank Merrill stepped through the swing doors of the London and Western
Counties Bank with a light heart and a smile in his eyes, and went
straight to his chief's office.

"I shall want you to let me go out this afternoon for an hour," he said.

Brandon looked up wearily. He had not been without his sleepless
moments, and the strain of the forgery and the audit which followed was
telling heavily upon him. He nodded a silent agreement, and Frank went
back to his desk, humming a tune.

He had every reason to be happy, for in his pocket was the special
license which, for a consideration, had been granted to him, and which
empowered him to marry the girl whose amazing telegram had arrived that
morning while he was at breakfast. It had contained only four words:

Marry you to-day. MAY.

He could not guess what extraordinary circumstances had induced her to
take so definite a view, but he was a very contented and happy young
man.

She was to arrive in London soon after twelve, and he had arranged to
meet her at the station and take her to lunch. Perhaps then she would
explain the reason for her action. He numbered among his acquaintances
the rector of a suburban church, who had agreed to perform the ceremony
and to provide the necessary witnesses.

It was a beaming young man that met the girl, but the smile left his
face when he saw how wan and haggard she was.

"Take me somewhere," she said quickly.

"Are you ill?" he asked anxiously.

She shook her head.

They had the Pall Mall Restaurant to themselves, for it was too early
for the regular lunchers.

"Now tell me, dear," he said, catching her hands over the table, "to
what do I owe this wonderful decision?"

"I cannot tell you, Frank," she said breathlessly. "I don't want to
think about it. All I know is that people have been beastly about you. I
am going to do all I possibly can to make up for it."

She was a little hysterical and very much overwrought, and he decided
not to press the question, though her words puz