overed his energies with surprising suddenness. He
seized the little black account-book with the silver lock.

"It's all here," he cried, holding up the volume with palsied hand. "It
runs into millions--millions!"

The doctor shook his head at Dora, as much as to say, "Take no notice; he
is wandering."

Trimmer now interrupted, entering the room abruptly.

"Mrs. Swinton, sir, wishes to see you at once, on urgent business," he
announced.

"Send her away!" cried the old man, throwing out his arm, and hurling the
book from him so that it slid along the polished floor. He made one last
supreme effort, and dragged himself up.

"Send her away," he screamed. "Liar!--Cheat!--Forger!--Thief! She sha'n't
have my money--she sha'n't--"

The words rattled in his throat, and he fell forward into Dora's arms.
She laid him back gently, and, after a few labored moments, he breathed
his last.

The daughter, unable to brook delay, and furious at Trimmer's insolent
opposition to her will, entered the room at this moment.

"Why am I kept away from my father?" she cried.

"Your father is no more," whispered the physician, gently.

"Dead?--dead?--And he never knew that I had found him out. The thief,
dead--and I--Oh, father--!"

She collapsed, sobbing hysterically and screaming. The pent-up agony of
the last few weeks burst forth, and she babbled and raved like a mad
woman. The physician carried her shrieking from the room, and the miser
was left in peace. By his bedside, his only friend, Dora, knelt and
prayed silently.

Trimmer stole from the room, with bowed head and tears falling--tears for
the first time since childhood. The strange, hypnotic spell of his
servitude was finished. He walked about aimlessly, like one wandering in
a mist. As yet, he could not lay hold on the freedom that was his at
last.

CHAPTER XXIX

A PUBLIC CONFESSION

The physician and Mrs. Ripon between them managed to soothe Mrs. Swinton,
and bring her back to consciousness of her surroundings; but the minutes
were flying, and she dimly remembered that her husband, knowing nothing
of what had passed, would go remorselessly through with his confession.
She begged to be allowed to return home at once.

They helped her into the automobile, and she fell back on the cushions,
listlessly. The quiet of the drive revived her a little. The window was
open, and the cold air fanned her hot cheeks. But, as the car reached the
city streets, a despair