ur first daughter is alive, or you shall deliver to
my mother the property."

Mr. Checkynshaw could not endure such speech as this from any man, much
less from his discharged clerk. He rose from his chair, and rushed upon
the slender youth with a fury worthy a more stalwart foe. Grasping him
by the collar, he dragged him out of the private office, through the
long entry, to the street, and then pitched him far out upon the
sidewalk. As he passed through the entry, Leo Maggimore was going into
the banking-office. Not knowing the way, he inquired of a person he met
in the long hall.

Leo did not know the banker, and was not aware that the excited
gentleman he had seen was he; and he did not recognize Fitz in the
young man who was so violently hurried before him. He followed the
direction given him, and reached the private office of the banker.
Through an open window he saw the clerks and cashiers rushing to the
door to witness the extraordinary scene that was transpiring in the
street. Taking off his cap, he waited for the appearance of Mr.
Checkynshaw, who, he supposed, had also gone to "see the fun." As he
stood there, a jaunty-looking individual hastily entered the office.

"What do you want?" asked this person.

"I want to see Mr. Checkynshaw," replied Leo.

"Go through that door, and you will find him," added the jaunty-looking
man, in hurried tones.

Leo, supposing the man belonged there, did as he was directed, and
inquired of an elderly clerk, who had not left his desk, for the
banker. He was told to wait in the private office, and he returned, as
he was bidden.

He found the jaunty-looking person taking some papers from the safe. He
put a quantity of them into the pockets of his overcoat, locked the
heavy iron door, and took out the key.

"Mr. Checkynshaw won't be here again to-day. You will have to call
to-morrow," said the man, in sharp and decided business tones.

"He sent for me to come to-day at half past two," replied Leo.

"He was unexpectedly called away; come again to-morrow at this time,"
added the jaunty person, briskly.

"I can't come to-morrow at this hour; school keeps."

"Come at one, then," replied the business man, who did not seem to care
whether school kept or not.

"Will you tell him, sir, that I came as he wished, and will call again
at one to-morrow?"

"Yes, yes. I will tell him all about it," answered the brisk personage,
as he took a small carpet-bag in his hand, and led