f the world, a new
thought struck him. "If I can get away with it--why not? A Russian
sable! Why, it's worth _thousands_!"

It took a concentrated effort to open the door a tiny crack and peer
through. Swiftly opening the door, Wentworth stepped onto the
sidewalk, closed the door behind him, and clutching his package
tightly, hurried down the street. He had entirely gained his composure
by the time he reached his hotel, and hastening to his room, placed the
package in his trunk and turned the key. He glanced at his watch. It
lacked three minutes of one, and remembering his appointment with
Orcutt, he hastened to the Wolverine Bank.

VI

Orcutt greeted his caller without enthusiasm. For despite the
assurance over the telephone that Wentworth wanted no money, he felt
that he was in for a touch.

The younger man was quick to note the attitude, and hastened to dispel
it. "In the first place, Mr. Orcutt, I am going to ask you to cash a
check for three thousand dollars, but----"

"Three thousand!" exclaimed Orcutt, his eyes narrowing. "Whose check
is it?"

"John McNabb's."

"John McNabb's!" A look of suspicion flashed into his eyes.

"Yes--isn't it good?"

"Good! Hell--yes, of course it's good! But what are you doing with
McNabb's check for three thousand?"

Reaching into his pocket, Wentworth drew out the packet of papers and
held it in his hand. "Eight or ten years ago McNabb bought options on
a half million acres of pulp-wood lying between two certain rivers. He
sent for me--said he heard I was out of a job, and that as he was the
one that was responsible for my losing out, it was only fair that he
should offer me another. Then he went on to outline the whole
proposition, told me the options expired on August first; then he was
called out of the office for a minute and asked me to look over the
maps and papers and let him know if I wanted to tackle it or not.

"In going over the contract, I found that the options expire on July
first, instead of August first, as he said. It was then I called you
up, for the whole scheme hit me like a flash. Don't you see it? If I
worked for him, I'd draw a salary, and a good one--and nothing more.
But if I should interest sufficient capital to step in on the first day
of July when those options expire, and buy up the whole tract, where
would McNabb be?"

Orcutt tapped thoughtfully upon his desk pad with the tip of his
pencil. "I wonder," he mutter