"He died last night."
"Indeed?"
"Yes."
"Of what?"
"He has been an invalid for a long time, it seems; heart trouble. When the doctors told him he couldn't live, he sent for the Secret Service Commissioner at Albany and told him a weird story about finding hidden papers relating to the Bradford defalcation in the Albany pension office ten years ago. Said that he meant to give up the money if he succeeded in getting it, but this is doubtful they think up there. At all events, he gave the whole thing away when he found he was dying."
"Did he then!" cried Old King Brady. "Did he say anything about his wife?"
"Yes, that she had run away from him and was after the treasure on her own account. His stepdaughter ran away with a Chinaman and stole the papers."
"That's my case all right," said Old King Brady. "We may as well compare notes."
They did so and the result was some excitement on Mr. Clemmens' part.
He had not altogether believed the story, it seemed.