Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/134

128 fact, I'm going to consider the loss of this document my contribution to the cause of the orphan," I added, with generous warmth.

"It would be felony!" said Morton.

"My good chap," I said stiffly, "I should never dream of committing felony. There is no such thing as felony till it's proved." "That's true, of course," said Morton. "But still"

"However," I broke in, "that doesn't concern you. The important thing for you is that you can reckon your client to be worth 40,000 shares in the Quorley Granite Company."

Morton's face cleared a little as he said: "It's not the way we like to do business, but with a man of that stamp we can very well follow the old rule, admit nothing and ask for proof. I can't understand, though, how it is he didn't register the shares at once."

"It is odd. But I think that the fact of the matter is that for some months Pudleigh has been very busy with a splendid plant called Amalgamated Fertilizers. It has filled up his time; but now he and his accomplices have unloaded, and it's my impression that he was going to set about gathering up the Quorley Granite Company when he lost his bag."

"That's very likely," said Morton, and his face grew yet brighter as he added: "This puts a very