kish
sentimentality of weakness. However, I know you, Jack Orde, from top to
bottom; and I know you're fool enough not to do it. I'm so sure of it
that I dare put it to you straight; you could never bring yourself to
the point of destroying a man who had sacrificed himself for you."

"You seem to have this game all figured out," said Orde with contempt.

Newmark leaned back in his chair. Two bright red spots burned in his
ordinarily sallow cheeks. He half closed his eyes.

"You're right," said he with an ill-concealed satisfaction. "If you play
a game, play it through. Each man is different; for each a different
treatment is required. The game is infinite, wonderful, fascinating to
the skilful." He opened his eyes and looked over at Orde with a mild
curiosity. "I suppose men are about all of one kind to you."

"Two," said Orde grimly; "the honest men and the scoundrels."

"Well," said the other, "let's settle this thing. The fact remains that
the firm owes a note to Heinzman, which it cannot pay. You owe a note to
the firm which you cannot pay. All this may be slightly irregular; but
for private reasons you do not care to make public the irregularity. Am
I right so far?"

Orde, who had been watching him with a slightly sardonic smile, nodded.

"Well, what I want out of this--"

"You might hear the other side," interrupted Orde. "In the first place,"
said he, producing a bundle of papers, "I have the note and the mortgage
in my possession."

"Whence Heinzman will shortly rescue them, as soon as I get to see him,"
countered Newmark. "You acknowledge that I can force Heinzman; and you
can hardly refuse him."

"If you force Heinzman, he'll land you," Orde pointed out.

"There is Canada for me, with no extradition. He travels with heavier
baggage. I have the better trumps."

"You'd lose everything."

"Not quite," smiled Newmark. "And, as usual, you are forgetting the
personal equation. Heinzman is--Heinzman. And I am I."

"Then I suppose this affidavit from Heinzman as to the details of all
this is useless for the same reason?"

Newmark's thin lips parted in another smile.

"Correct," said he.

"But you're ready to compromise below the face of the note?"

"I am."

"Why?"

Newmark hesitated.

"I'll tell you," said he; "because I know you well enough to realise
that there is a point where your loyalty to Heinzman would step aside in
favour of your loyalty to your family."

"And you think you know w