"Cable, where is my son?" demanded Bansemer loudly, starting toward
the steps. He had not removed his hat and was, indeed, an ominous
figure. Cable clutched the stair rail and glared down at him in
amazement. Before he could pull himself together sufficiently to
reply, Graydon Bansemer hurried past him and stared in alarm at
the unexpected figure below.

"What's the matter, dad?" he cried. "What. has happened?"

"Aha? You think something could have happened, eh? Damn all of
their souls, you shan't be taken in by them. Come down here, boy!"

"Father, are you crazy?" gasped Graydon, rushing down the stairs.

"Get him away from here, Graydon, for God's sake," exclaimed Cable.
"Take him away! He's your father, but if he stays in this house a
minute longer I'll kill him!"

The man from the newspaper was shrewd enough to withdraw into a
less exposed spot. He saw a great "beat" in prospect.

Graydon stopped as if stunned by a blow. Bobby Rigby came running
to the head of the stairs, followed by Jane and another young woman.
James Bansemer could not have been expected to know it, but Rigby
and Miss Clegg had come to tell these friends that they were to be
married in December.

"Kill me, eh? Not if you can't do a better job than you did
the other night. Here, you reporter, ask Mr. Cable to explain the
mystery of that affair on the lake front. Oh, I know all about it!