"All right, governor," assented Collaton a trifle sullenly. "I'll
fake that note for you to-night; and--"

"I told you I would not have anything to do with any crooked work,"
Gresham sharply reprimanded him.

"Oh, shut up!" growled Collaton. "You give me the cramps. You're a
worse crook than I am!"





CHAPTER VIII

IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS




On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as
if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer. He laid
the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared
it might get away. He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in
his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will
see him in five minutes."

During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as
a judge pronouncing a death sentence. At last he paused and looked