physician, on which only a burial certificate can be obtained, is public
property. The bureau of vital statistics is open to the public and the
reporters. There is bound to be an inquiry, and, as I have said, Dr.
Rowland has already announced it as a suicide. We must face the issue
bravely."

"But even if it should prove true, that he took the poison, I am sure
it will turn out to be a mistake!" declared Viola. "As for my father's
affairs being in danger financially--Aunt Mary, did you ever hear of
such a thing?"

"Well, my dear, your father kept his affairs pretty much to himself,"
was the answer of her aunt. "He did tell me some things, and only
to-day something came up that makes me think--Oh, I don't know what to
think--now!"

"What is it?" asked Dr. Lambert, quietly but firmly. "It is best to know
the worst at once."

"I can't say that it is the 'worst,'" replied Miss Carwell; "but there
was something about a loan to the bank, and not enough collateral to
cover--Mr. Blossom should have attended to it, but he did not, it seems,
and--Won't you tell them?" she appealed to Captain Poland.

"Certainly," he responded. "It is a simple matter," he went on. "Mr.
Carwell, as all of us do at times, borrowed money from his bank, giving
certain securities as collateral for the loan.

"The bank, as all banks do, kept watch this security, and when it
fell in market value below a certain point, where there was no longer
sufficient margin to cover the loan safely, demanded more collateral.

"This, for some reason, Mr. Carwell did not put up, nor did his clerk,
Mr. Blossom. I know nothing more in this respect than Miss Carwell told
me," and he bowed to indicate the dead man's sister. "I offered to see
to the matter for her, putting up some collateral of my own until Mr.
Carwell's affairs could be straightened out. It is a mere technicality,
I imagine, and can have nothing to do with--with the present matter,
even though Miss Webb seems to think so."

"Oh, I am so sorry if I have made a mistake!" exclaimed Minnie, now very
penitent. "But I only thought it would be helping--"

"It will be--to know the truth," said Dr. Lambert. "Is this all that you
heard, Miss Webb?"

"No, it was nothing like that. It had nothing to do with a bank loan.
Oh, please don't ask me. I promised not to tell."

"Very well, we won't force you to speak," said the family physician.
"But this matter must be gone into. What one person knows others ar