ards Eustace's room as she left the
doorway. He saw Eustace slip from the room and make for the door leading
into the private portion of the house. At the door he turned.

"Get her to come in here," he said impatiently.

As he was speaking Mrs. Burke flounced round again and caught sight of
him.

"Oh, there you are," she cried, as she stepped inside. "Now, what have
you to say?"

Eustace closed the door after him as she was speaking.

Mrs. Burke rushed out again into the road.

"Mr. Allnut! Mr. Soden! I can trust you. Will you stay here and see that
villain does not slip out and escape? He's gone into the house. I'll go
to the front door."

She ran towards the private entrance, but stopped opposite Brennan, who
had at last succeeded in getting the horse under control.

"They've robbed me, Brennan," she cried. "I left all the deeds of my
Irish property with them. They've stolen them and say the place has been
broken into as a blind. I don't believe it. It's Eustace. I never
believed in him. Sure, if it hadn't been for Mr. Gale I'd never have
listened to him. But now what am I to do? Where's Mr. Gale? Why isn't he
here to help me? Why don't you tell him to come at once?"

"Mr. Gale has gone along the road with two men we want to know something
about, Mrs. Burke. He'll return shortly. You had better see Mr. Eustace.
It's only money which has been taken, I believe. Mr. Eustace will be
able to tell you all about it."

"But he is trying to escape," she said in a whisper. "I saw him go out
of the other door. He'll get away. Come and arrest him."

"Never fear," Brennan answered, as he smiled. "I'll see he doesn't get
away. I'll watch here till you come out."

"Will you please come this way, Mrs. Burke? Mr. Eustace is waiting to
see you," Harding called out from the bank entrance.

"I'll go," she said to Brennan. "But mind! I rely on you--thank God your
father and mother were Irish even if you were born out here."

"Mr. Eustace asks if you will mind going into the dining-room," Harding
said.

She shot a resentful glance at him as she swept by and passed through
into the house. Eustace met her and led her into the dining-room,
closing the door after him. As Harding shut the door leading from the
bank, Johnson, the postmaster, came in.

"Here is a message just come through--I brought it down at once as I
thought you'd be anxious," he said.

"Half a minute," Harding said, as he took the telegram. "Eustace is
s