But the quick-eyed Demorest suddenly let go his hold and stared at Barker's face.

"Why, Barker, old boy, what's up ?" "Everything's up," gasped the breathless Barker.

"It's all up about these stocks.

It's all a mistake; all an infernal lie of that newspaper.
I never had the right kind of shares.

The ones I have are worthless rags"; and the next instant he had blurted out his whole interview with the bank manager.
The two partners looked at each other, and then, to Barker's infinite perplexity, the same extraordinary convulsion that had seized Miss Kitty fell upon them.