our thousand'. Little matter of an inheritance. I--I trust
he hasn't been speculating, but I suppose I must not ask, eh? Sad
young dog, Vernon!"

"It was a business transaction of rather a private nature, but I can
assure you that Vernon was not a loser by it." Wiley's tone was quiet,
but he had gone white to the lips "I would not have doubted the
signature, except for the fact that I thought it an unusually large sum
to be payable to bearer, and, as I said, I did not know to whom it had
been issued originally. I am sorry to have troubled you."

He took his leave amid the other's cordial protestations, with outward
composure, but his expression changed savagely as he descended the
steps of the house and started up the Avenue.

The attorney's attitude had not deceived him for a moment. Someone had
checkmated him, that was plain; had disclosed the truth and persuaded
North to shield Vernon. Could that young man have confessed
voluntarily and thrown himself on the attorney's mercy rather than play
the game? But such a step would have involved courage of a sort, and
he was sure Vernon did not possess enough of that commodity to carry
him so far. Someone must have interceded for him--but who?

Then an inspiration came and under its goad Wiley almost cursed aloud.
That girl, again! He recalled Vernon's swift, unaccountable
championship of his cousin at the club an hour before. That was the
answer, of course! The young cub had double-crossed him and placed
himself in Willa's hands--and incidentally landed his erstwhile tyrant
in the same position.

So be it. He would carry the game into the enemy's camp and then, if
necessary, arbitrate. Wiley had fought many duels with the fair sex,
but never a financial one before, and the prospect was not without an
element of sport. She had outwitted him at the start and borne off the
spoils, but he would wrest them from her, and tame her into the bargain.

The morning dawned clear and crisply cold, and Willa started upon her
early gallop in the Park with every nerve a-tingle and the blood racing
in her veins. Her perplexities were forgotten, her slow, waiting game
put aside and she gave herself up joyously to the influences of the
hour. After all, it was good to be alive!

Her mount was fresh, but she rode him hard until she had taken the edge
off his spirits and he was willing enough to drop into the easy, loping
canter for which she had originally chosen him fro