stant, struggling in such an undignified position and
unable to extricate myself, the chair having closed upon me, the door
suddenly opened, and the man Reckitt, with his companion Forbes,
re-entered the room.

CHAPTER SIX

A GHASTLY TRUTH

Ere I could recover myself or utter a word, the pair dashed towards
me, seized my hands deftly and secured them behind the chair.

"What do you mean by this, you infernal blackguards!" I cried angrily.
"Release me!"

They only grinned in triumph. I struggled to free my right hand, in
order to get at my revolver. But it was held far too securely.

I saw that I had been cleverly entrapped!

The man with the pimply face placed his hand within my breast pocket
and took therefrom its contents with such confidence that it appeared
certain I had been watched while writing the cheque. He selected it
from among my letters and papers, and, opening it, said in a tone of
satisfaction--

"That's all right--as far as it goes. But we must have another
thousand."

"You'll have nothing from me," I replied, sitting there powerless, yet
defiant. "I don't believe Marlowe has been here at all! It's only a
trap, and I've fallen into it!"

"You've paid your friend's debts," replied the man gruffly; "now
you'll pay your own."

"I owe you nothing, you infernal swindler!" I responded quickly. "This
is a pretty game you are playing--one which you've played before, it
seems! The police shall know of this. It will interest them."

"They won't know through you," laughed the fellow. "But we don't want
to discuss that matter. I'm just going to write out a cheque for one
thousand, and you'll sign it."

"I'll do nothing of the sort!" I declared firmly.

"Oh yes, you will," remarked the younger man. "You've got money, and
you can easily afford a thousand."

"I'll not give you one single penny," I declared. "And, further, I
shall stop that cheque you've stolen from me."

Reckitt had already seated himself, opened my cheque-book, and was
writing out a draft.

When he had finished it he crossed to me, with the book and pen in
hand, saying--

"Now you may as well just sign this at first, as at last."

"I shall do no such thing," was my answer. "You've entrapped me here,
but you are holding me at your peril. You can't frighten me into
giving you a thousand pounds, for I haven't it at the bank."

"Oh yes, you have," replied the man with the red face. "We've already
taken the precaution to