“You know Harriet is here, of course,” she said. “She’s all right now, I imagine; but she gave us a most terrible scare a couple of hours ago. I didn’t see her when she came in; but Dick did, and she saw that something was the matter with her, so she took her right up to what she calls her den. Dick says she thinks that something must have happened--something to frighten her on her way down here. Anyway, before she had been here ten minutes she had sort of--well, the doctor said it was a hysterical seizure. It wasn’t like any hysterics I’d ever heard of, though. But whatever it was she’s all over it now, and the doctor’s given her something to put her to sleep. I think she will be all right by morning; but you’ll leave her here till then. We’ll take good care of her. I wanted to telephone to you, but John and Dick seemed to think it wasn’t necessary.” John came into the room in time to hear the concluding words of Alice’s explanation. “I’m glad it’s no worse,” Sponley said. “I was a little afraid she might break down. The--excitement of the last few days has been hard on her.” Then he turned to John. “I came around on a business matter. It’ll take but a moment,” he hesitated, “if Alice will excuse us.” He led the way to a remote corner of the room. “I’ve been hearing rumors all the afternoon about your bank; I’m afraid you’re likely to have some trouble to-morrow. I wanted to warn you.” “Thank you,” John answered drily. “I’ve heard something of it myself. Harriet told Dick that you asked her to tell me that I was going to have a run on my hands.” “I fancy that Miss Haselridge did not understand precisely, or it may be that in her excitement Harriet misunderstood me. I told her that I meant to let you know.” “I must be going on,” he added, again addressing Alice. “I’ll call up in the morning and find out how Harriet is.” Then, to John, “Well, good night. I wish you luck.” John smiled, “I wish you the same thing,” he said. CHAPTER XVII WEDNESDAY MORNING It was, however, a most unpleasant smile that accompanied John’s words. It brought to Sponley’s mind the story Hauxton had recalled to him that afternoon, of John Bagsbury’s moment of indecision whether or not to kick Drake downstairs. He was himself no weakling, even when measured by a merely physical test; but he had no wish to try conclusions of that sort with the Banker, and he took his leave promptly. Then Alice went upstairs to assure herself that Harriet was being well cared for, and a few moments later Dick came down to the library. “Mrs. Sponley is sleeping heavily,” she said in answer to John’s inquiry. “There’s nothing we can do, I suppose, but leave her alone and keep everything quiet.” Then she hesitated, “Wasn’t--he down here?” she asked. “I thought I heard him.” “You did. He came to warn me, too.” “To warn you!”