so evident that, to make it less apparent, she lowered her eyes.
"My uncle should be able to tell you," she said evenly. "He was
my father's executor. But, when he returned my father's papers"
-- she paused and then, although her voice fell to almost a
whisper, continued defiantly, "the agreement was not with them."

There was a moment's silence. To assure himself the others had
heard as he did, Mr. Hallowell glanced quickly from Winthrop to
Gaylor. He half rose from his chair and leaned across the table.

"What!" he demanded. His niece looked at him steadily.

"You heard what I said," she answered.

The old man leaned farther forward.

"So!" he cried; "so! I am not only doing you an injustice, but I
am a thief! Mr. Winthrop," he cried appealingly, "do you
appreciate the seriousness of this?"

Winthrop nodded cheerfully. "It's certainly pretty serious," he
assented.

"It is so serious," cried Mr. Hallowell, "that I welcome you
into this matter. Now, we will settle it once and forever." He
turned to his niece. "I have tried to be generous," he cried; "I
have tried to be kind, and you insult me in my own house." He
pressed the button that summoned the butler from the floor
below. "Gentlemen, this interview is at an end. From now on this
matter is in the hands of my lawyer. We will settle this in the