“As the false specifications are gone, I am unable to give you any,” Nash responded. “Mr. Sigsbee and his confederate, Mr. Hooker, have planned a shrewd game, and have left few loopholes. As the matter stands at the present I am helpless.” Sigsbee was upon his feet instantly, his cheeks flaming. “I won’t stand for such insinuations!” he roared. “I won’t stand for a man of Mr. Nash’s reputation to----” The president of the board put up his hand. “Just a moment, Mr. Sigsbee,” he cautioned. “I think we can straighten out this matter with the aid of these new witnesses.” The door had opened. Every eye in the room instantly turned. Miss Breen and Hooker advanced into the room and were seated. Miss Breen and Hooker! Nash felt the hot blood mount to his temples. So she had gone over to the other side! He knew she must do so, yet, deep in his heart, he hoped---- Miss Trask, or Miss Breen, as she was known to all the men in the room, save one, did not look in Nash’s direction. She appeared unusually pale and concerned. “We have been waiting for you, Miss Breen,” the president announced. “Our evidence appears to be somewhat confused. Will you kindly state your knowledge of the affair to the board?” Miss Trask arose, facing the president. Her voice was low and evenly pitched, and never once did she falter. “I became acquainted with Mr. Nash through an accident, and in his company, later, I was taken around the camp. One day he allowed me to inspect the steel sections on the Soledad Siphon. Unknown to him, I measured the steel, and later on compared the measurements with the specifications. It was then I learned the truth; that the steel he had been using was a quarter of an inch too thin. I then reported the facts.” Nash listened eagerly. Miss Trask’s declaration explained her actions and questions that day when he had willingly guided her about the camp. “Have you any answer to make, Mr. Nash?” the president asked. “None whatever,” Nash answered quietly. “Miss Breen has told you the whole truth. I have not denied that my steel was a quarter of an inch too thin.” For the smallest part of a minute Miss Trask allowed her eyes to rest upon him. Nash’s heart responded. Was it possible that he could read within those depths a message of---- Hooker was called upon. The president handed him a copy of the true specifications. “These are similar to the ones you delivered to Mr. Nash?” Hooker nodded. “Yes, sir.” “Mr. Nash claims you changed the copies yesterday afternoon,” the president declared. “That you took the false ones and substituted these.” “Such an idea never entered my head,” replied Hooker. “Where were you yesterday afternoon?” “I was in Camp Forty-seven for about an hour.” “To see whom?” “Mr. Nash. He was out. I waited around a short time and finally left in Mr. Sigsbee’s machine.” Sigsbee was plainly nervous. His fingers were drumming upon his chair arm, and he shifted about uncomfortably.