He passed into the reading-room quietly, but in an instant turned and quickly descended by another staircase into the hall, hurriedly put on his overcoat, and slipping out was a moment later re-entering the hotel.

Here he hastily summoned Barker, who came down, flushed and excited.

Laying his hand on Barker's arm in his old dominant way, he said:-- "Don't delay a single hour, but get a written agreement for that Ditch property." Barker smiled.

"But I have.

Got it this afternoon." "Then you know ?" ejaculated Stacy in surprise.
"I only know," said Barker, coloring, "that you said I could back out of it if it wasn't signed, and that's what Kitty said, too.