"I didn't call you over here to discuss Stover. I called you to tell you what is between Miss Babcock and the job." "What is it?" "You." "Me? What do you mean?" "Wing has heard that she is keeping company with a disreputable fellow. You are the fellow, aren't you?" "Yes," answered Harold as he started for the door. "Wait a minute. Where are you going?" "I'm going down to 'mop up' on Stover." "Just hold on a little bit. I haven't told you that it was Stover who told Wing." "It was Stover, all right. I recognize his hand." "Very well, it was Stover; but he did not say it was you." "He meant me, all right." "Maybe this girl has been keeping company with some other fellow." "I am the only man she has kept company with since she came to Wilford Springs except she has been with Golter, Stover's nephew, a few times." "You'd better make sure of that." Harold picked up the 'phone and placed the receiver to his ear. Central did not answer promptly and he rang impatiently. When he at last got Ruth on the line he said, "Ruth, this is Harold. I want to ask you some very personal questions. I am sure you will understand that I have some good reasons for asking or I would not do so." "All right, Harold, if you do not ask my age, I probably will be willing to answer," she replied. "How many times have you gone with Chester Golter?" "Oh, I suppose about a thousand." Then came a rippling wave of laughter over the wire. "Ruth, I am not joking, I really want to know." "Maybe Golter would like to know how many times I have been with you." "I have a good reason for asking. It's to your interest to answer me seriously." "Well, if I must be serious and confess to my father confessor, it was five times." "Have you since coming to Wilford Springs ever gone with anybody else?" "No other young man." "That's what I mean. Girls don't count." "Oh, thank you for the information that girls don't count," she said with a tone of injured pride. "Then Golter is the only man you have kept company with in Wilford Springs besides myself and you were with him only five times?" "Yes, that is true, but why do you ask?" "I have a good reason for wanting to know. I will tell you all about it later." He hung up the receiver without the customary "good-bye" and rushed from the room with Wilson shouting after him, "Be careful what you say and do." Harold lost no time in getting down to the Central State Bank. Stover was in the banking room when Harold entered. Harold informed the cashier that he wished to speak to Stover. The cashier called Stover, who came to the cashier's window. "Stover," said Harold, "I want to talk to you in private, and I want to talk to you right now." There was no mistaking the anger and determination in his voice. "This is private enough if you speak low," said Stover, as he put his face close to the bars that protected the window.