ed dollars
that Marian Barber foolishly loaned you. You see she had no right to do
so. Besides, she is still a minor. If you do it at once we can cash it
to-day. It is now fifteen minutes of three. I'll call the bank and tell
them that I am coming. But first I must send a message to my father."

With these words, Grace walked to the telephone without giving Hammond
time to answer. "Give me Main 268a, please," she said. With a bound he
sprang to the door, but it closed in his face, and he heard the turn of
the key in the lock, just as Grace calmly called, "Hello, is this Chief
Burroughs? Is my father there?" Then she answered, "You say he is there?
Well, this is his daughter, Grace. Please tell him that Miss Savelli and
I are just about to leave Mr. Hammond's office, and wish him to meet us
outside."

Hammond sprang toward Grace, but instantly realizing that it would be
folly to molest her, drew back, scowling savagely.

Grace hung up the receiver and rang again. This time she called the
bank, asking for the president. "Is this Mr. Furlow?" she said. "This is
Grace Harlowe. I am at the office of Mr. Henry Hammond, who is about to
write my father a check for five hundred dollars, which he wishes to
cash before the bank closes. It is now ten minutes of three. He will be
there inside of seven minutes. Thank you. Good-bye."

"Now," she commanded, turning to Hammond, the expression of whose face
was a combination of baffled rage, disappointment and fear, "write the
check."

With a muttered imprecation he went to his desk, jerked out a checkbook
and wrote the desired check.

"To whom shall I make it payable?" he muttered.

"To Thomas G. Harlowe," replied Grace composedly.

Inserting her father's name, he fairly flung the check in her face, and
strode to the door.

"Open this door," he commanded.

There was no response.

"You may open the door, Eleanor," called Grace. "Mr. Hammond is ready to
go now."

The key turned in the lock. With a savage jerk, Henry Hammond flung open
the door, and brushing Eleanor aside, bolted for the stairway.

Five seconds later the two girls reached the sidewalk and found Mr.
Harlowe waiting for them.

"Father, dear," exclaimed Grace. "Here is a check for five hundred
dollars, made payable to you by Mr. Henry Hammond. You have five minutes
in which to cash it, before the bank closes. I'll tell you the story of
it later. I haven't time now."

The First National Bank was just around