," said Vic impressively, "through some agency at
present unknown. So far, so good."

"Unknown? What rubbish. I sent a note by Sam Wigglesworth, who gave it
to some of you for Adrien. What about it?"

As they approached the entrance to the Maitland Mills Vic saw a stream
of employees issue from the gate.

"Nothing more at present," he said. "This is my corner. Let me out. I am
in an awful hurry, Jack."

"Will you tell me, please, what all this means?" said Jack angrily.

"Sorry, old chap. Awfully hurried just now. See you later."

"You are a vast idiot," grumbled Jack, as Vic ran down the street.

He took his place at the corner which commanded the entrance to
the Maitland works. "Here I shall wait, abstractedly gazing at the
passers-by, until the unhappy Sam makes his appearance," mused Vic to
himself. "And by the powers, here Sam is now."

From among the employees as they poured from the gate Victor pounced
upon his victim and bore him away down a side street.

"Sam," he said, "it may be you are about to die, so tell me the truth.
I hate to take your young life." Sam grinned at his captor, unafraid.
"Cast your mind back to the occasion of the hockey dance. You remember
that?"

"You bet I do, Mister. I made a dollar that night."

"Ah! A dollar. Yes, you did, for delivering a note given you by Captain
Jack Maitland," hissed Vic, gripping his arm.

"Huh-huh," said Sam. "Look out, Mister, that's me."

"Villain!" cried Vic. "Boy, I mean. Now, Sam, did you deliver that
note?"

"Of course I did. Didn't Captain Jack give me a dollar for it? I didn't
want his dollar."

"The last question, Sam," said Vic solemnly, "to whom did you deliver
the note?"

"To that chap, the son of the storekeeper."

"Rupert Stillwell?" suggested Vic.

"Huh-huh, that's his name. That's him now," cried Sam. "In that Hudson
car--see--there--quick!"

"Boy," said Vic solemnly, "you have saved your life. Here's a dollar.
Now, remember, not a word about this."

"All right, sir," grinned Sam delightedly, as he made off down the
street.

"Now then, what?" said Vic to himself. "This thing has got past the joke
stage. I must do some thinking. Shall I tell Pat or not? By Jove, by
Jove, that's not the question. When that young lady gets those big eyes
of hers on me the truth will flow in a limpid stream. I must make sure
of my ground. Meantime I shall do the Kamerad act."

That afternoon Annette had another visitor. Her nurse, though