commission). This arrangement led Mr. Rohscheimer to rejoice exceedingly
over his growing social circle, and made Haredale so ashamed of himself
that, so he declared to an intimate friend, he had not looked in a
mirror for nine months, but relied implicitly upon the good taste of his
man.

"Come up and give me your opinion of the new waistcoats," said
Rohscheimer. "I don't fancy my luck in 'em, personally."

Following the financier to his dressing-room, Haredale, as a smart maid
stood aside to let them pass, felt the girl's hand slip a note into his
own. Glancing at it, behind Rohscheimer's back, he read: "Keep him away
as much as ever you can."

"She has spotted him!" he muttered; and, in his sympathy with the
difficulties of poor Mrs. Rohscheimer's position, he forgot,
temporarily, the difficulties of his own.

"By the way," said Rohscheimer, "did you bring along that late edition
with the details of the Runek Mill business?"

"Yes," said Haredale, producing it from his overcoat pocket.

"Just read it out, will you?" continued the other, "while I have a rub
down."

Haredale nodded, and, lighting a cigarette, sank into a deep arm-chair
and read the following paragraph:

"A FAIRY GODMOTHER IN ONTARIO

"(_From our Toronto Correspondent_)

"The identity of the philanthropist who indemnified the
ex-employees of the Runek Mill still remains a mystery. Beyond the
fact that his name, real or assumed, is Severac Bablon, nothing
whatever is known regarding him. The business was recently acquired
by J. J. Oppner, who will be remembered for his late gigantic
operation on Wall Street, and the whole of the working staff
received immediate notice to quit. No reason is assigned for this
wholesale dismissal. But each of the 2,000 men thus suddenly thrown
out of employment received at his home, in a plain envelope,
stamped with the Three Rivers postmark, the sum of one hundred
dollars, and a typed slip bearing the name, 'Severac Bablon.' Mr.
Oppner had been approached, but is very reticent upon the subject.
There is a rumour circulating here to the effect that he himself is
the donor. But I have been unable to obtain confirmation of this."

"It wouldn't be Oppner," spluttered Rohscheimer, appearing, towel in
hand. "He's not such a fool! Sounds like one of these 'Yellow' fables to
me."

Haredale shrugged his shoulders, dropping the paper on t