We can't afford to run any risks." "All right, then." [Illustration: "SAME PAPER--SAME HANDWRITING!"] Mr.Brown released the letter, drew a leather wallet from inside his vest, counted off six five-hundred-dollar bills, returned the wallet and held out the bills.

The exchange was made.

The detective carefully put the letter into a thick manila envelope, which he licked and sealed and put inside his vest to keep company with the wallet.
Mr.Pyecroft counted the bills, slowly, three or four times; then looked up.
"I bet my sisters were right; you would have paid more," he said regretfully, greedily.
"Never you mind what I would have paid!" retorted the detective, buttoning his coat over the letter.
"You'd have paid twice that!" Mr.Pyecroft exclaimed disappointedly.
The detective, triumphant, could not resist grinning confirmingly.
"We've been outwitted!" cried Mr.Pyecroft.He turned to the two woman contritely.

"If I'd only heeded you--let you have managed the affair!" "You people got a mighty good price," commented Detective Brown.
"Well--perhaps so," sighed Mr.Pyecroft.Chagrin gave way to curiosity in his face.

"I wonder, now, how Mrs.Allistair is going to use the letter ?" "That's none of my business." "She must think she can do a lot with it," mused Mr.Pyecroft.