office, I know
all about it. Thousands of sealed envelopes filled with steamship
tickets and money. Thousands of telegraph forms already addressed. You
don't fool me!" He hissed the last words almost in her face. "Why is he
employing the crocks and the throw-outs of science? Perrilli, Maxon,
Boyd Heyler--and me? If the game's square why doesn't he take the new
men from the schools?"

She shook her head, being, by now, less interested in such revelations
as he might make, than in her own personal comfort. For his attitude was
grown menacing ... then the great idea came to her. Evidently this man
knew nothing of the circumstances under which she had come to the house.
To him she was a wilful but willing assistant of the doctor, who for
some reason or other it had been necessary to place under restraint.

"I will tell you everything if you will take me back to my home," she
said. "I cannot give you proofs here."

She saw suspicion gather in his eyes. Then he laughed.

"That won't wash," he sneered--"you know it all. I can't leave here," he
said; "besides, you told me last time that there was nothing. I used to
watch you working away at night," he went on to the girl's amazement.
"I've sat looking at you for hours, writing and writing and writing."

She understood now. She and Hilda Glaum were of about the same build,
and she was mistaken for Hilda by this bemused man who had, in all
probability, never seen the other girl face to face.

"What made you run away?" he asked suddenly; but with a sudden resolve
she brought him back to the subject he had started to discuss.

"What is the use of my telling you?" she asked. "You know as much as I."

"Only bits," he replied eagerly, "but I don't know van Heerden's game. I
know why he's marrying this other girl, everybody knows that. When is
the wedding?"

"What other girl?" she asked.

"Cresswell or Predeaux, whatever she calls herself," said Bridgers
carelessly. "She was a store girl, wasn't she?"

"But"--she tried to speak calmly--"why do you think he wants to marry
her?"

He laughed softly.

"Don't be silly," he said, "you can't fool me. Everybody knows she's
worth a million."

"Worth a million?" she gasped.

"Worth a million." He smacked his lips and fumbled for the little box in
his waistcoat pocket. "Try a sniff--you'll know what it feels like to be
old man Millinborn's heiress."

There was a sound in the hall below and he turned with an exaggerated
start