do is to sit steady, and he'll swallow the hook!"

It was impossible that Marguerite Whitland should not know the extent
of her employer's commitments. She was a shrewd girl, and had acquired
a very fair working knowledge of City affairs during the period of her
employment. She had, too, an instinct for a swindle, and she was
panic-stricken at the thought that Bones was marching headlong to
financial disaster. Hamilton had gone home to his disagreeable task,
when the girl came from her office and stood, her hands clasped behind
her, before the desk of the senior partner.

Bones peered up in his short-sighted way.

"Well, young miss?" he said quietly.

"Mr. Tibbetts," she began a little unsteadily, "I'm going to be very
impertinent."

"Not at all," murmured Bones.

"I've been with you for some time now," said the girl, speaking
rapidly, "and I feel that I have a better right to talk to you
than--than----"

"Than anybody in the whole wide world," said Bones, "and that's a fact,
dear young Marguerite."

"Yes, yes," she said hurriedly, "but this is something about business,
and about--about this deal which you're going into. I've been talking
to Captain Hamilton this afternoon, while you were out, and I know it's
a swindle."

"I know that, too," said Bones calmly.

"But," said the puzzled girl, "you are putting all your money into it.
Mr. Hamilton said that, if this failed, you might be ruined."

Bones nodded. Outwardly calm, the light of battle shone in his eye.

"It's a gamble, dear young typewriter," he said, "a terrific gamble,
but it's going to turn out all right for did Bones."

"But Mr. Hamilton said you can't possibly make anything from the
property--that it is derelict and worth practically nothing. Only a
tenth of the stores are open, and the trading is----"

Bones smiled.

"I'm not gambling on the property," he said softly. "Oh, dear, no,
young fiancee, I'm not gambling on the property."

"Then what on earth are you gambling on?" she asked, a little piqued.

"On me," said Bones in the same tone. "On poor old silly ass Bones,
and I'm coming through!"

He got up and came across to her and laid his big hand on her shoulder
gently.

"If I don't come through, I shan't be a beggar. I shall have enough to
build a jolly little place, where we can raise cows and horses and
vegetables of all descriptions, dear old typewriter. And if I do come
through, we'll still have that same place--on