ly as it bought the bravo's knife a few hundred years ago. Have you
ever thought of the number of unexplained, if not undetected crimes you
read of continually, in which the victims are generally rich men?
Perhaps not, and you need not worry your little head about it, but take
my word for it, the keys are safer with you."

Virginia laid her hand tremulously upon the locket.

"They shall be safe," she said, "but tell me this. I am never to give
them up to any one but you?"

"Never under any conditions," he answered.

"Not even," she asked, "if any one should bring a written message from
you?"

"Distrust it," he answered. "Do not give them up. Into my hands only,
remember that."

The telephone bell rang suddenly at his elbow. Phineas Duge took off the
receiver and held it to his ear. The quiet, measured voice of Stephen
Weiss came travelling along the wire.

"Say, Duge, I am half inclined to think we made a mistake in signing
that paper," he said. "Of course, I know it's safe in your keeping, but
I don't fancy my name standing written on a document that means quite
what that means. I fancy that Higgins is a little nervous, too. We'll
meet and talk it over to-morrow night."

Phineas Duge smiled faintly as he answered--

"Just as you like, only I must tell you that I entirely disagree. Unless
we strike, and strike quickly, that bill will become law, and we shall
all have to print a European address upon our notepaper, if we get
as far."

"I speak for the others, too," Weiss continued. "We'll meet right here
to-morrow night to discuss it. Say at eight o'clock."

Phineas Duge laid down the receiver and turned away.

"Well," he said, "this will become interesting. They will not strike now
until they have got hold of that foolish paper. If they are all
determined to get it back, and I resist, they will know that the game is
up, and that I have seen through their little scheme. This must be
thought about. Virginia, do I look ill?"

She shook her head.

"I thought you were looking very well, uncle," she said.

He locked up his desk, and looked down to see that the surface of the
carpet was unruffled.

"To-morrow," he said, "I am going to be very ill indeed!"

CHAPTER VI

MR. WEISS IN A HURRY

Virginia walked along Fifth Avenue, enjoying the sunshine, the crowds of
people, and the effect of a new hat. Every now and then she stopped to
look in a shop, and more than once she smiled to herself as she
r