He is very ill to-night, sir." He halted for a moment and glanced in Shirley's direction, and slightly raising his voice so she might hear, he added: "If he gets worse we shall send for his daughter." "Where is his daughter ?" demanded Ryder, suddenly interested.
"She is working in her father's interests," replied Stott, and, he added significantly, "I believe with some hope of success." He gave Shirley a quick, questioning look.

She nodded affirmatively.

Ryder, who had seen nothing of this by-play, said with a sneer: "Surely you didn't come here to-night to tell me this ?" "No, sir, I did not." He took from his pocket two letters--the two which Shirley had sent him--and held them out for Ryder's inspection.

"These letters from Judge Rossmore to you," he said, "show you to be acquainted with the fact that he bought those shares as an investment--and did not receive them as a bribe." When he caught sight of the letters and he realized what they were, Ryder changed colour.

Instinctively his eyes sought the drawer on the left-hand side of his desk.