Laverick frowned.

"If there is anything in this Story, Shepherd," he said, "if you
are really being followed, what a thundering fool you were to come
here! All the world knows that Arthur Morrison was my partner."

"I couldn't help it, sir," the man declared. "I couldn't, indeed.
I was so scared, I felt I must speak about it to some one. And then
there were these shares. There was nowhere I could keep 'em safe."

"Look here," Laverick went on, "you're alarming yourself about
nothing. In any case, there is only one thing for you to do. Pull
yourself together and put a bold face upon it. I'll keep these
certificates for you, and when you want some money you can come
to me for it. Go back to your place, and if your master is willing
to keep you on perhaps it would be a good thing to stay there for
another month or so. But don't let any one see that you're
frightened. Remember, there's nothing that you can get into trouble
for. No one's obliged to answer such questions as you've been asked,
except in a court and under oath. Stick to your story, and if you
take my advice," Laverick added, glancing at his visitor's shaking
fingers, "you will keep away from the drink."

"It's little enough I've had, sir," Shepherd assured him. "A drop
now and then just to keep up one's spirits - nothing that amounts
to anything."

"Make it as little as possible," Laverick said. "Remember, I'm back
of you, I'll see that you get into no trouble. And don't come here
again. Come to my office, if you like - there's nothing in that -