he word trouble jarred Collins's train of thought out of its remorseful
channel.

"Trouble!" he echoed, raising his voice to a high pitch. "I've certainly
got trouble on my hands. But I'm glad she's not here to share it. She
wanted luxuries--I gave 'em to her. We'd both be in a fine predicament
now, wouldn't we? All my money gone--sunk in Ward's schemes! Oh, they're
a fine combination--Ward and my wife!" he declared bitterly. "She
thought herself too good for me, too virtuous to remain my wife! You've
read of Ward's failure--the papers must be full of it! Well, I'm the one
that's hit. All my money, every cent I've got is in his bank. Oh, just
wait till I see him!"

He paused, turning an agonized countenance on his friends. The loss of
the girl for whom he had provided the apartment had touched his sense of
remorse; the loss of his money swept him with an anguish so keen that
for the time it excluded all other emotions from his mind.

"We're all paupers!" he exclaimed. "Made paupers by Ward. Ward--yes,
damn him! Ward--the thief! My respectable brother-in-law! Ward--the--"

Collins stopped short, amazement written across his features. He stood
mute, lips pendent, his eyes bulging forward as if gazing at an
apparition. Cooper and Fanwell, following his gaze, beheld the door
standing ajar and revealing a man's form with one hand on the knob, the
other braced against the jamb. Evidently the newcomer had changed his
mind after opening the door, and was about to close it softly, without
revealing himself. On being discovered, however, he came forward boldly,
shutting the door after him.

With his back against the portal he surveyed the three men in the room,
but without a gleam of recognition in his eyes.

"Well--who are you?" brusquely demanded Collins.

"I am Detective-Lieutenant Britz," the visitor said in even tones. "Sit
down, Collins!"

CHAPTER XVII

Collins obeyed. Not voluntarily, but because he was unable to resist the
domination of the detective's will. Also, a terrible fear had gripped
his heart, producing a terror that sobered him and gave him command of
all his faculties.

"Who are these men?" inquired Britz, nodding toward Cooper and Fanwell.

"Friends of mine," growled Collins.

"I wish to speak with you, Collins," said the detective. "Do you want
them to remain?"

"I do."

"You prefer to have witnesses present?"

"I wouldn't talk to you without them," said Collins.

"But I want to g