you would be careful how you answer. I may tell you also,

that your father paid the three hundred on the spot.'

'Three hundred?' repeated John. 'Three hundred pounds, you

mean? That's fifteen hundred dollars. Why, then, it's

Kirkman!' he broke out. 'Thank Heaven! I can explain all

that. I gave them to Kirkman to pay for me the night before

I left - fifteen hundred dollars, and a letter to the

manager. What do they suppose I would steal fifteen hundred

dollars for? I'm rich; I struck it rich in stocks. It's the

silliest stuff I ever heard of. All that's needful is to

cable to the manager: Kirkman has the fifteen hundred - find

Kirkman. He was a fellow-clerk of mine, and a hard case; but

to do him justice, I didn't think he was as hard as this.'

'And what do you say to that, Alick?' asked Flora.

'I say the cablegram shall go to-night!' cried Alexander,

with energy. 'Answer prepaid, too. If this can be cleared

away - and upon my word I do believe it can - we shall all be

able to hold up our heads again. Here, you John, you stick

down the address of your bank manager. You, Flora, you can

pack John into my bed, for which I have no further use to-

night. As for me, I am off to the post-office, and thence to

the High Street about the dead body. The police ought to

know, you see, and they ought to know through John; and I can

Tales and Fantasies