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Rh "Then you know why I am here."

"I do."

"I am glad of it, for it will make it easier for me to speak of what is in my mind. I suppose you have read the letters that were taken from me."

"I have."

"We were going to get old Bartlett to sell out for a song—if we could. I was to prove to him that the Importing Company was about to go bankrupt."

"I have suspected that for some time."

"The Importing Company is in first-class condition and making money," went on Nuggy, quickly, as if afraid to keep back the information for fear of not being able to free his mind later.

"You told me that at Manila."

"And the Bartlett stock is worth two hundred cents on the dollar."

"And what of the Pennington stock?" put in Gilbert, quickly.

"The Pennington stock is worth just as much—and there is at least sixteen thousand dollars' worth of it," was the answer, which made the young lieutenant's heart bound. "There, the cat is out of the bag—and I am glad of it. That secret has lain like