“I forgot about it until I got a note from her enclosing the money,” he protested. “Why, when that cheque came along, you could have blown me down. It was then I saw big money in the proposition and decided to go after the rest of the stuff. It looked easy to me.” Impolite scepticism showed in her eye, and his injured air only intensified her suspicions. “Now, Dan, you’re a wonderful teller of tales and I guess if I were a bit younger I’d fall for it!” she said practically. “But you’re going to be a good little boy and ’fess up to Auntie that you took that money, and then you’ll say ‘Auntie, we’ll split it fifty-fifty.’ And if you don’t, Dan, why, it’s ‘Good morning, judge’ for yours!” He tried blandishment. “Honest, now, Sally, you’ve got it,” he said genially. “Let’s get right down to cases and----” “Would I be here doing this act and allowing my emotions to destroy my beauty if I had it? Shouldn’t I be stepping on it? Would you be exchanging persiflage with anything but the dust of my trail?” This point appeared logical. “That’s true,” he said. “Then who opened the safe--not Selsbury?” “You did,” she nodded, and he went purple. “Curse you! I told you I didn’t take it....” The door handle turned. Without looking round they knew it was Diana. She had omitted to enclose a cheque in her letter, she remarked at large, but they were too absorbed in their talk to heed her. “I just love the country,” sighed Heloise. “To hear the old blue jays singing and watch the clouds coming up over the hill and feel the breeze in your face--why, there’s nothing quite like it, Mr. Dempsi.” “I’ve never seen you two talking before,” said Diana with a smile. Which was true. In a few seconds she was gone.... “Now see here, Sally, we haven’t time to act foolishly over this business. The stuff was taken, maybe by that guy Selsbury. What did you come here for, anyway?” It was a question that he had been seeking an opportunity to ask. “I came here when I found you were trying to work the job as a one-man performance. I know you, Dan; you’ve got a mighty bad reputation amongst honest crooks.” He laughed without merriment. “I’m trying to live it down. Where has he gone--did he tell you he was leaving?” “No; we’d given up confidences before he left. You said he would come back. I’ve got it in my bones that you’re right. I guess he got it.” “But he couldn’t have worked a job like this single-handed,” said the other. “Why, your husband couldn’t have opened that safe more scientifically....” She was not willing to be turned by gross flattery. “Cut out the small talk and get right down to the grand facts of life,” she said briskly. “Did I find Selsbury and affinitize him or did I not? Did I....” He snarled at her like an angry mongrel. “‘Did I, didn’t I’--great Moses! Do I want all that stuff? Why did you allow him to come back here?”