ing only a few things and a purse with such money as I had by
me at the moment, M. Schenk, on my explicit instructions, assured me
that he would arrange at once for a large sum of money to be transferred
to my account at the Maastricht Bank. I have been there repeatedly,
asking about it, but none of the officials know anything of the matter.
They say they have not been approached, and though they have enquired of
other banks in the place they can learn no tidings. They have been very
good to me, for, hearing who I was, they advanced me a small sum for my
immediate use. Will you now please see M. Schenk and have this
matter--which is so distressing--put right?"

Max clenched the paper in his hand. The blood flooded up into his head
with such force that he had to put his hand against the doorpost to
steady himself.

"What's the matter?" cried Dale, again in alarm at the look on his face.
"Is it bad news?"

"Aye--the worst--the blackest treachery," cried Max in a voice which
trembled with the intensity of his emotion. "I must see Schenk--and
wring from him the money he has stolen," and, turning impetuously on his
heel, Max strode rapidly away from the house in the direction of the
works.

Dale darted after him and caught him up. "You must do nothing rash,
Max," he cried earnestly. "Wait a while until you are calm; you are no
match for Schenk like that. Let us walk slowly along while you tell me
what has happened."

Max thrust at him the crumpled letter. Then in a few broken words he
told him, what was scarcely needed, that the manager had tricked his
mother into leaving the country, and had then left her stranded without
a penny to live upon. The baseness of it all came as a shock, even on
the top of their knowledge of the man's deep treachery.

"There's more behind it, I believe," said Dale, after a few minutes'
cogitation in silence. "I think this may be a lever to get _you_ out of
the country. He will think you will be compelled to go to your mother
and work for her support."

"He knows he can get me out of the way at any time by denouncing me to
the Germans," replied Max in dissent. "No--that will not explain it. But
as sure as I live I will wring the truth from him before another hour is
gone."

Dale gazed in some apprehension at his friend as he strode feverishly
along towards the Durend works. He feared that he might, in his anger,
do some rash act that would destroy all. But presently, to his relief,
he