job when I came down here. It's assumed a different form, that's all."

"You do not like it?"

"Not altogether," I admitted. "I am beginning to wonder if those
fellows were square, if they gave me the straight story. Coombs' words
would seem to indicate that he knows I 'm a fraud. Perhaps he did n't
mean that, but it sounded so. Why should they tell that rough-neck
their plans, and send him down here? I 'll find out what he knows, and
how he knows it, before another ten hours. If he 's here to spy on us
I 'll make him earn his money."

She did not look around.

"Are--are you just beginning to doubt what those men told you?"

"Doubt!" in surprise. "No; I don't know that I do. But I don't like
to be mistrusted and watched. Why? Do you think they are
double-crossing us?"

"I 've--I 've taken your word," she said quickly. "But it has never
seemed quite right to me. I--I hardly know why I consented to come,
only I was so miserable, anything seemed better than the life I was
leading."

"You saw all the papers," I interposed, "and they bear out every
statement."

"Yes, but could they not be forged? Why should any honest lawyer
advise a client to undertake such a fraud?"