ceive it?"

"Oh, you didn't, eh?" said Wiley, glancing up at the janitor. "Perhaps
you will tell me if it was offered to you?"

"No, it was not offered to us," replied Blount, smiling blandly,
"although Miss Huff did make a deposit."

"Of fifty thousand dollars?"

"No, it was more than that--fifty-two, I believe. It was deposited to
your account."

"Oh," observed Wiley, and looked them over again as the directors turned
around to scowl. "Well, perhaps I can see Miss Huff?"

"She is not here at present," replied Blount with finality, "and so I
must ask you to withdraw."

"Just a moment," said Wiley, as the janitor moved expectantly. "I came
here on a matter of business with you and this Board of Directors and,
since the matter is urgent, I must request an immediate hearing. You
don't need to be alarmed--all I want is my answer and then I'll leave
you alone. In the first place, Mr. Blount, will you please tell me the
circumstances under which this deposit was made? I gave Miss Huff
instructions to offer the money to you in payment for the Paymaster
Mine."

"Oh! Instructions, eh?" piped Blount with a satirical smile, and the
Board stirred and nodded significantly. "Well, since you've just come in
and are evidently unaware of the wide interest that has been taken in
this case, I'll tell you a few things, Mr. Holman. The people of this
town do not approve of the manner in which you have treated Mrs. Huff;
and as for your 'instructions' to Virginia, let me tell you right now
that we have saved her from becoming your victim."

"My victim!" repeated Wiley, moving swiftly towards him, but the janitor
caught him by the arm.

"Yes, your victim," answered Blount with a venomous sneer, "or, at
least, your intended victim. The people of Vegas had nothing to say when
you deprived Virginia and her mother of their livelihood--it was your
privilege as lessee of the mine to board your own men if you chose--but
when you had the effrontery to send Virginia to this Board with
'instructions' to jeopardize her own interests, we felt called on to
interfere."

"Why, you're crazy!" burst out Wiley. "What interests did she jeopardize
by making that payment for me? As a matter of fact it was just the
contrary--I gave her the money to get back the stock that you had
practically stolen from her mother!"

"Now! Now!" spoke up Blount, "we won't have any personalities, or I'll
ask Mr. Jepson to remove you. You must know if you know anyth