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 would not let the contracts on the supplies to be bought with proceeds of the new loans; and, if they did, I'd have to see him later.

I said to that girl, "You read the papers?"

Of course she did; and, when I asked, she granted that she'd seen considerable mention of me, recently.

"That's good," I said. "Will you ask Mr. Sencort if he has, too? And, if he has, assure him I've called on nothing connected with my usual business, but something else of direct importance to him."

"Rising out of your—" she hesitated and then said—"your counterfeiter's connection, Mr. Fanneal?"

"Rising from it," I told her, "but not stopping there. Now I leave it to you to get me in to see Mr. Sencort."

I saw, by this time, she was curious, if not a little impressed. It's queer how a short and conspicuously unsuccessful connection with crime produces an effect which a lifetime in a creditable business can not do,—at least not the bean business. That girl disappeared and when she was back again, it was to ask me into Mr. Sencort's office.

The old man was at his desk and alone, and I