"I can smooth away that doubt. If you will promise not to compromise me with the clerks or any one inside there, I will allow you to telephone home and learn the truth of what I have told you. Anything further will end all business between us and wind up your father's affairs at the hour set. I can afford to humor you for ten minutes more in this nonsense."
"I will do it," she cried. "I must know what I am fighting before——" She caught herself back, but he was quite able to finish the sentence for her.
"Before you submit to the inevitable," he smiled.
Her head fell and he pointed toward the door.
"I will trust you to guard my—our interests," said he. "Open and go directly to your own telephone."
With a staggering step she obeyed. Creeping up stealthily behind her he watched her manner of opening the door and profited by the one quick glance he got of the office as she stepped through and passed hurriedly forward to her desk. There was no one within sight. Mr. Fellows had not yet returned and the clerks were too remote to notice her agitation or pay attention to her gait or the tremulousness of her tone as she called for her home number.
"Couldn't be better," thought he. "Now if Fellows will stay away long enough, I'll be able to double the boodle I've promised myself." This with a chuckle.
Meantime Miss Lee had got in her message. The answer sent her flying toward him.
"He's gone! He's gone!" she gasped. "My old, old father! Oh, you wretch! Save him and——"
"You save me first," he whispered, and was about to draw her back into the room with the safe, when the outer door opened and a stranger entered on business.