terrified look in her eyes, and his own sparkled with triumph. It was
easier to settle matters of business with a woman in this mood than with
a tearful mother.

"I shall be as brief as possible, Mrs. Swinton. I only come to ask you a
plain question. Did you recently receive from your father, Mr.
Herresford, a check for two dollars?"

"I--I did. Yes, I believe so. I can't remember."

"Did you receive one from him for two thousand dollars?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because the check for two dollars appears to have been altered into two
thousand."

"Let me see it," she demanded with the greatest _sang froid_.

He produced the check, and she took it; but her hand trembled.

"This is certainly a check for two thousand dollars, but I know nothing
of it."

"It was presented at the bank by your son, and cashed."

"I tell you I know nothing of it. My son is dead, and cannot be
questioned now."

"I have another check here for five thousand dollars, made out to your
son and cashed by him also. You will see that the ink has changed color
in one part, and that the five has been altered to five thousand. The
body of the check is in your handwriting, I believe."

"Yes, that is my handwriting."

"The additions were very cleverly made," ventured Mr. Barnby. "The forger
must have imitated your handwriting wonderfully."

"Yes, it is wonderfully like," she replied, huskily.

"This check was also presented by your son, and honored by us. Both
checks are repudiated by your father, who will only allow us to debit his
account with seven dollars. Therefore, we are six thousand, nine hundred
and ninety-three dollars to the bad. Mr. Ormsby, our managing director,
says we must recover the money somehow. Your son is dead, and cannot
explain, as you have already reminded me. Unfortunately, a warrant has
been applied for, for his arrest for forgery."

"You mean to insinuate that my son is a criminal?" she cried, with mock
rage, drawing herself up, and acting her part very badly.

"If you say those checks were not altered by you, there can be little
doubt of the identity of the guilty person."

"My son is dead. How dare you bring such a charge against him. I refuse
to listen to you, or to discuss money matters at such a time. My father
must pay the money."

"He refuses, absolutely. And he says he will prosecute the offender,
even if the forger be his own child."

"He has the wickedness and audacity to suggest that I--?"

"I m