He talked so queerly and so excitedly, that the little girl's interest was held closely and she remained where she was. But of course she did not understand all that the two were talking about. [Illustration: _The little girl's interest was closely held._] "I have to take risks, too--greater than yours, René," the dark man said, by his tone evidently wearied of the chauffeur's complaints. "I lose my job, maybe." "And so may I. Especially if the old man finds out who sold him out to the Cummings crowd in that matter of the pulp-mills," and the speaker laughed shortly. "He's in no pleasant mood just now. He is keeping me here at the hotel muddling over accounts like any junior clerk, while his secret agents I am sure are going through my office accounts, if not my private papers. He is suspicious." "Ah!" "He trusts nobody--you know that--since--Well, since the time we both have reason to remember, René." "Sure. I 'member," growled the other sourly. "Who does not? And there you won a fortune, while I--" The dark man sprang up angrily. He used words that showed his wrath but that made no lasting impression on Carolyn May's innocent mind. "And you had five hundred that time for merely keeping your mouth shut," he finished. "Ungrateful dog!" "While you got ten thousand dollars, eh?" snarled René. "I believe it! I haf always believe' it. The money came from the bank, and M'sieu was most particular about it. Then we go a second time for ten thousand--Oh, yes! I am convince' you got that first ten thousand dol', Boss. I cannot believe the young one, he take it. No!" "What if I did?" demanded the other. "Do you think ten thousand dollars lasts forever?" "Not when a man lives as you do, Boss. If M'sieu knew--" "If he knew the truth about that ten thousand dollars we would both lose our jobs," growled the dark man. "And he hates to lose even ten cents--let alone ten thousand dollars." "Who would not shrink from losing that sum? Ah!" groaned René, as they walked away. Carolyn May had heard the sum of "ten thousand dollars" repeated so often that she was not likely to forget it at once, nor the circumstances under which she had heard it. It was clear in her mind, too, that in some way her friend who lived at the Orowoc House had lost the sum of money in question. She waited until the chauffeur and the saturnine man had walked some distance away before she ran down to the beach and around the foot of the hill to the cabin. The two wooden-legged men were hard at work splitting and salting the dory load of pollock they had obtained the day before. There was a big tub of salt water by the cabin door into which the fish were thrown as fast as Captain Littlefield gutted and split them. Mr. Oly Littlefield was salting the split fish, fresh from the tub, and stacking them under the lean-to, in tiers. In a few days the fish would be spread on the drying racks for more complete curing.