unconnected with a certain Dora Dundas.

Yet, he sent for his cashier, and handed him the check.

"Pay it," he directed.

Through a glass panel in his room, the banker's son watched the departure
of Dick Swinton with considerable satisfaction. Dick was a fine, handsome
young fellow, tall, broad-shouldered, and looking twenty-five at least
instead of his twenty-two years, with a kindly face, like his father's,
brown hair, hazel eyes, and a clean-shaven, sensitive mouth more suited
to a girl than to a man. Now, Ormsby smiled sardonically at the
unconscious swagger of the young man, and he wondered, too. Indeed, he
had more than a suspicion about that check. Everybody knew of his rival's
heavy debts, but that he should put his head into the lion's mouth was
amazing. Forgery!

How easy it would be to discover the fraud presently--when the money was
spent, and ere the woman was won. Not now, but presently.

CHAPTER III

THE DINNER AT THE CLUB

Colonel Stone was the possessor of much political and social influence;
moreover, he enjoyed considerable wealth; finally, he was flamboyantly
and belligerently patriotic. In consequence of his qualities and
influence, he conceived the project of raising a company for the war in
Cuba, equipping it at his own expense. The War Department accepted his
proposition readily enough, for in his years of active service he had
acquired an excellent reputation as an officer of ability, and he was
still in the prime of life. Rumors of the undertaking spread through his
club, although he endeavored to keep the matter secret as long as
possible. Unfortunately, he consulted with that military authority,
Colonel Dundas, who was unable to restrain his garrulity concerning
anything martial. The current report had it that the colonel intended to
make his selection of officers from among certain young men of his
acquaintance who were serving, or had served, with the National Guard.
Among such, now, the interest was keen, for the war spirit was abroad in
the land, and the colonel's project seem to offer excellent opportunity
to win distinction. And then, at last, Colonel Stone sent invitations to
a select few young men to dine with him at his club. The action was
regarded as significant, inasmuch as the colonel was not given to this
sort of hospitality. Among those to receive the honor of an invitation
was Dick Swinton.

When the rector's son entered the private dining-room of the club on