Do you understand that!" he said savagely.
"No, I don't; because, if you did, it's forgery." "I don't give a damn what you think it is!" he broke in fiercely.

"All I'm worried over is what Plank will think.

I didn't mean to do it; I didn't dream of doing it; but when Burbank cleaned me up I fished about, and that cursed cheque came tumbling out!" In the rising excitement of self-defence the colour was coming back into his battered face; he sat up straighter in his chair, and, grasping the upholstered arms, leaned forward, speaking more distinctly and with increasing vigour and anger: "When I saw that cheque in my hands I thought I'd use it temporarily--merely as moral collateral to flash at Burbank--something to back my I.O.

U.'s.

So I filled it in." "For how much ?" she asked, not daring to believe him; but he ignored the question and went on: "I filled it and indorsed it, and--" "How could you indorse it ?" she interrupted coolly, now unconvinced again and suspicious.
"I'll tell you if you'll stop that fool tongue a moment.