Ralph, that you could have forgotten," she declared. "But perhaps
it is all for the best! We need the money more now than we ever have
before."

Mr. Le Baron did not answer his sister.

"I think you will find it the wisest plan, Mr. Le Baron," continued Mr.
Stuart, breaking the silence, "to pay over this money to Mrs. Thurston
and her daughters as soon as you conveniently can."

Ralph Le Baron knit his brows. Barbara was watching him closely. There
was no love lost between Bab and her uncle. She had long looked for some
difficulty to arise out of his management of her mother's affairs, but
nothing so serious as this.

Mr. Le Baron's voice sounded cold and hard as steel.

"Do not deceive yourselves," he said, with a sneer. "I mean you, Mollie,
and Mr. Stuart, who seems to be taking an unusual interest in your
affairs. I have not the slightest intention of ever paying back the
money!"

Mrs. Thurston's manner changed. She spoke firmly. "I should be
exceedingly sorry, Ralph, to have any trouble with you over the matter;
but the law must compel you to pay your debt."

"Not so fast, sister," smiled Mr. Le Baron, sarcastically. "You are
coming into a remarkable business knowledge all at once, but you do not
yet know quite enough. The law does not compel me after six years to pay
a debt which has not been presented to me within that time. Perhaps you
have never heard of the statute of limitation. Perhaps your friend, Mr.
Stuart, will make it clear to you. You should have asked me for this
money five or six years ago. The New York law does not require a debt to
be paid unless a request has been made for its settlement within six
years after the time it was contracted. The money was loaned to me by
your husband eleven years ago, as we all know by the date on the note. I
have no further concern in the matter."

"Great heavens, man!" cried Mr. Stuart, breaking in fiercely, "you cannot
mean to play your own sister such a low-down, scoundrelly trick! You will
not pay back the money to her which you confess to owing, simply because
she has not asked you for it before! How could she ask for it when you
alone knew of the debt and kept the matter a secret? I am not so sure how
your law would stand in such a case. A pretty story it will make to tell
to the men who respect your business integrity. Mrs. Thurston shall have
a lawyer to inquire into the situation immediately!"

A low knock sounded at the door. Before anyone could an