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〃Nothing；〃 said Demorest hastily； as he caught a glance of Stacy's
impatient face。 〃Only all business is serious； Barker boy； though
you don't seem to feel it so。〃
〃I reckon you're right there；〃 said Barker； with a chuckle。
〃People always laugh； of course； when I talk business； so it might
make it a little livelier for you and more of a change if I chipped
in now。 Only I don't know which you'll do。 Hand me a pipe。
Well；〃 he continued； filling the pipe Demorest shoved towards him；
〃you see； I was in Sacramento yesterday； and I went into Van Loo's
branch office； as I heard he was there； and I wanted to find out
something about Kitty's investments； which I don't think he's
managing exactly right。 He wasn't there； however； but as I was
waiting I heard his clerks talk about a drop in the Wheat Trust；
and that there was a lot of it put upon the market。 They seemed to
think that something had happened； and it was going down still
further。 Now I knew it was your pet scheme； and that Phil had a
lot of shares in it； too； so I just slipped out and went to a
broker's and told him to buy all he could of it。 And； by Jove！ I
was a little taken aback when I found what I was in for； for
everybody seemed to have unloaded； and I found I hadn't money
enough to pay margins； but I knew that Demorest was here； and I
reckoned on his seeing me through。〃 He stopped and colored； but
added hopefully； 〃I reckon I'm safe； anyway； for just as the thing
was over those same clerks of Van Loo's came bounding into the
office to buy up everything。 And offered to take it off my hands
and pay the margins。〃
〃And you？〃 said both men eagerly； and in a breath。
Barker stared at them； and reddened and paled by turns。 〃I held
on；〃 he stammered。 〃You see； boys〃
Both men had caught him by the arms。 〃How much have you got？〃 they
said； shaking him as if to precipitate the answer。
〃It's a heap！〃 said Barker。 〃It's a ghastly lot now I think of it。
I'm afraid I'm in for fifty thousand； if a cent。〃
To his infinite astonishment and delight he was alternately hugged
and tossed backwards and forwards between the two men quite in the
fashion of the old days。 Breathless but laughing； he at length
gasped out； 〃What does it all mean？〃
〃Tell him everything； Jim；EVERYTHING；〃 said Demorest quickly。
Stacy briefly related the story of the forgery； and then laid the
letter and its copy before him。 But Barker only read the forgery。
〃How could YOU； Stacyone of the three partners of Heavy Treebe
deceived！ Don't you see it's Phil's handwritingbut it isn't
PHIL！〃
〃But have you any idea WHO it is？〃 said Stacy。
〃Not me；〃 said Barker； with widely opened eyes。 〃You see it must
be somebody whom we are familiar with。 I can't imagine such a
scoundrel。〃
〃How did YOU know that Demorest had stock？〃 asked Stacy。
〃He told me in one of his letters and advised me to go into it。
But just then Kitty wanted money； I think； and I didn't go in。〃
〃I remember it；〃 struck in Demorest。 〃But surely it was no secret。
My name would be on the transfer books for any one to see。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Stacy quickly。 〃You were one of the original
shareholders； there was no transfer； and the books as well as the
shares of the company were in my hands。〃
〃And your clerks？〃 added Demorest。
Stacy was silent。 After a pause he asked； 〃Did anybody ever see
that letter； Barker？〃
〃No one but myself and Kitty。〃
〃And would she be likely to talk of it？〃 continued Stacy。
〃Of course not。 Why should she？ Whom could she talk to？〃 Yet he
stopped suddenly； and then with his characteristic reaction added；
with a laugh； 〃Why no； certainly not。〃
〃Of course； everybody knew that you had bought the shares at
Sacramento？〃
〃Yes。 Why； you know I told you the Van Loo clerks came to me and
wanted to take it off my hands。〃
〃Yes； I remember； the Van Loo clerks； they knew it； of course；〃
said Stacy with a grim smile。 〃Well； boys；〃 he said； with sudden
alacrity； 〃I'm going to turn in； for by sun…up to…morrow I must be
on my way to catch the first train at the Divide for 'Frisco。
We'll hunt this thing down together； for I reckon we're all
concerned in it；〃 he added； looking at the others； 〃and once more
we're partners as in the old times。 Let us even say that I've
given Barker's signal or password；〃 he added； with a laugh； 〃and
we'll stick together。 Barker boy；〃 he went on； grasping his
younger partner's hand； 〃your instinct has saved us this time；
dd if I don't sometimes think it better than any other man's
sabe； only；〃 he dropped his voice slightly； 〃I wish you had it in
other things than FINANCE。 Phil； I've a word to say to you alone
before I go。 I may want you to follow me。〃
〃But what can I do？〃 said Barker eagerly。 〃You're not going to
leave me out。〃
〃You've done quite enough for us； old man；〃 said Stacy； laying his
hand on Barker's shoulder。 〃And it may be for US to do something
for YOU。 Trot off to bed now； like a good boy。 I'll keep you
posted when the time comes。〃
Shoving the protesting and leave…taking Barker with paternal
familiarity from the room； he closed the door and faced Demorest。
〃He's the best fellow in the world；〃 said Stacy quietly； 〃and has
saved the situation； but we mustn't trust too much to him for the
presentnot even seem to。〃
〃Nonsense； man！〃 said Demorest impatiently。 〃You're letting your
prejudices go too far。 Do you mean to say that you suspect his
wife。〃
〃Dn his wife！〃 said Stacy almost savagely。 〃Leave her out of
this。 It's Van Loo that I suspect。 It was Van Loo who I knew was
behind it； who expected to profit by it； and now we have lost him。〃
〃But how？〃 said Demorest； astonished。
〃How？〃 repeated Stacy impatiently。 〃You know what Barker said？
Van Loo； either through stupidity； fright； or the wish to get the
lowest prices； was too late to buy up the market。 If he had； we
might have openly declared the forgery； and if it was known that he
or his friends had profited by it； even if we could not have proven
his actual complicity； we could at least have made it too hot for
him in California。 But；〃 said Stacy； looking intently at his
friend； 〃do you know how the case stands now？〃
〃Well；〃 said Demorest； a little uneasily under his friend's keen
eyes； 〃we've lost that chance； but we've kept control of the
stock。〃
〃You think so？ Well； let me tell you how the case stands and the
price we pay for it；〃 said Stacy deliberately； as he folded his
arms and gazed at Demorest。 〃You and I； well known as old friends
and former partners； for no apparent reasonfor we cannot prove
the forgery nowhave thrown upon the market all our stock； with
the usual effect of depreciating it。 Another old friend and former
partner has bought it in and sent up the price。 A common trick； a
vulgar trick； but not a trick worthy of James Stacy or Stacy's