“This is Captain Mercer talking now, sir. I paid Mr. Sewall the money by a check made payable to me from Judge Oglesby,” replied Dean. “I endorsed the check and he gave me a receipt signed by your firm.” “Impossible, Captain Mercer. This is Brown talking, and Mr. Sewall is present. He says he was not on board the _Spray_. We did not think it was necessary to run after the money, as we knew Judge Oglesby was able to pay.” A five minutes’ conversation followed, but nothing could be learned to explain the situation. If Messrs. Brown, Sewell and Company told the truth, as no one doubted, Dean had been imposed upon by some dishonest person. It was a trying situation for him. “Let me see if I can get any one at the bank,” said Judge Oglesby. “Though it is not bank hours, some one may be there.” “Hello, is this the Atlas Bank?” he called, a few minutes later, after securing a connection. “It is.” “Is Mr. Hume, the cashier, there?” “He is. Hold the wire a moment and I will call him.” “We are in luck,” declared the judge aside to Dean. “If that check has not been presented for payment, I will stop it and we shall be all right. “Hello! I am Mr. Hume, Judge Oglesby. What is it?” said a voice at the other end of the wire. “Has there been a check presented at your bank to-day signed by me, and endorsed by Dean Mercer?” “There has. Captain Mercer called in person this morning very soon after the bank was open. He presented a letter from you, which we have, and received the cash in large bills at his own request. I hope, judge, everything is all right.” “I am afraid there is something wrong about this. Captain Mercer is here and says he did not call at your bank. The person must have been an impostor.” “I do not see how that could be, judge. I remember speaking to him myself, congratulating him on the fine appearance of the new steamer. If there is anything wrong we will try and help you straighten it. Young Mercer was a stranger to us, but your letter seemed sufficient guarantee of his honesty. Perhaps he has deceived you.” “I am not ready to think that. How long shall you remain in the bank?” “Half an hour.” “I may call you up again within that time. Good-by.” “Good-by.” “There is something wrong about this, but what, I cannot tell,” said Judge Oglesby, as he hung up the receiver and turned to converse with the anxious party about him. “I can see now I did wrong in paying the money to the man without further proof of his identity,” acknowledged Dean. “His receipt is made out on one of the company’s blanks,” said the judge. “It is a serious situation, but until--Whew! here comes Montague. I wonder what has put him into such a state of excitement.” In the changing excitement of the preceding scenes, Dean had quite forgotten about the disappearance of Marcus Ellison. But it came back to him very vividly now, and he anticipated the purpose of the lawyer’s abrupt appearance.