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fer it. They'd 'a' done it theirse'ves, only they didn't know how."

"No, 'I God!" cried the shadow in sudden wrath. "You give me that money right now. I've been juberous about it ever sence I put the first check in yore han's. An' as fur as you dividin' with me after this swindle, you never divided with nobody."

"Jim, in two weeks—"

The shadow's voice shook. "I didn't say two weeks, I said now. I know you got it, you jest stole a bank!"

The magnate moistened his lips. "I'll haff to study about this—you're actin' the fool, Jim."

During this colloquy Abner's nerves had been gradually screwed up. The dim figure in the noisome cage moved him with compassion.

"Look here, Mr. Jones," he began uncertainly, glancing at Adelaide, "Jim here is tryin' to pertect his name, and if he don't want to sell it, I don't think you ort to shove the trade on him."

"Neither do I, Daddy," said Adelaide quite unexpectedly.

The magnate made a brusque gesture, "Uh, you two!" he grunted.

"Now, looky here," proceeded Abner more warmly, "I got a claim against nearly all yore farms. I'm fer Jim in this deal. If you don't pay him out to-night, I'll tell Buck Sharp to sue to-morrer."

The fat man glanced at Abner as if worried by a midge; then a half-humourous smile moulded his fat face.

"Yore time of action petered out two months ago, Abner. The statue of limitations begun to run against you an' yore claims the day the county court declared you twenty-one years old—that's why I had 'em do it."

Abner stared at the fat man and a trembling slowly set up in him which became so violent that the jail seemed to quiver and he had to steady himself by holding to the bars of Jim's cell.