North shook his head.

"Oh, you'll get into something!" the lawyer encouraged. "When shall you
see McBride?"

"This afternoon. Why?"

"I was going to say that I was just there with Atkinson. He and McBride
have been in a timber speculation, and Atkinson handed over three
thousand dollars in cash to the old man. I suppose he has banked it in
some heap of scrap-iron on the premises!" said Langham laughing.

"I think I shall go there now," resolved North. While he was speaking he
had moved to the door leading into the hail, and had opened it.

"Hold on, John!" said Langham, detaining him. "Evelyn is home. She came
quite unexpectedly to-day; you won't leave town without getting up to
the house to see her?"

"I think I shall," replied North hastily. "I much prefer not to say
good-by."

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Langham.

"No, Marsh, I don't intend to say good-by to any one!" North quietly
turned back into the room.

"I had intended having you up to the house to-night for a blow-out,"
urged Langham, but North shook his head. "You and Gilmore, Jack; and by
the way, this puts me in a nice hole! I have already asked Gilmore, and