nd for me from the bank, and I'd be more
than glad to be out of the way."

"Well, I'm not accustomed to being the porter, but if time's that
precious, here we go," said Uncle Jim.

He picked up the suitcase with one hand and took his wife's arm with the
other.

"Scoot down there and climb into that boat," he said proudly to Eileen.
"We'll have a good dinner in a private room when we get to the hotel. I
won't even register. And then we'll get out of here when we have rested
a little."

"Can't we stay all night and go in the morning?" panted his wife.

"No, ma'am, we can't," said James Heitman authoritatively. "We'll eat
a bite because we need to be fed up, and I sincerely hope they's some
decent grub to be had in this burg. The first place we come to outside
of here, that looks like they had a decent bed, we'll stop and make up
for last night. But we ain't a-goin' to stay here if Eileen wants us to
start right away, eh, Eileen?"

"Yes, please!" panted Eileen. "I just don't want to meet any of them.
It's time enough for them to know what has happened after I am gone."

"All right then," said Uncle James. "Pile in and we'll go."

So Eileen started on the road to the unlimited wealth her soul had
always craved.

CHAPTER XXIV. Linda's First Party

At the bank Linda and John Gilman waited an hour past the time set for
Eileen's appearance. Then Linda asserted herself.

"I have had a feeling for some time," she said quietly, "that Eileen
would not appear today, and if she doesn't see fit to come, there is no
particular reason why she should. There is nothing to do but go over
the revenue from the estate. The books will show what Eileen has drawn
monthly for her expense budget. That can be set aside and the remainder
divided equally between us. It's very simple. Here is a letter I wrote
to the publishers of Father's books asking about royalties. I haven't
even opened it. I will turn it in with the remainder of the business."

They were in the office with the president of the bank. He rang for the
clerk he wanted and the books he required, and an hour's rapid figuring
settled the entire matter, with the exception of the private account,
amounting to several thousands, standing in Eileen's name. None of them
knew any source of separate income she might have. At a suggestion from
Linda, the paying teller was called in and asked if he could account for
any of the funds that had gone into the private account.

"No