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But just then Kitty wanted money； I think； and I didn't go in。〃
〃I remember it；〃 struck in Demorest。 〃But surely it was no secret。
My name would be on the transfer books for any one to see。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Stacy quickly。 〃You were one of the original
shareholders； there was no transfer； and the books as well as the
shares of the company were in my hands。〃
〃And your clerks？〃 added Demorest。
Stacy was silent。 After a pause he asked； 〃Did anybody ever see
that letter； Barker？〃
〃No one but myself and Kitty。〃
〃And would she be likely to talk of it？〃 continued Stacy。
〃Of course not。 Why should she？ Whom could she talk to？〃 Yet he
stopped suddenly； and then with his characteristic reaction added；
with a laugh； 〃Why no； certainly not。〃
〃Of course； everybody knew that you had bought the shares at
Sacramento？〃
〃Yes。 Why； you know I told you the Van Loo clerks came to me and
wanted to take it off my hands。〃
〃Yes； I remember； the Van Loo clerks； they knew it； of course；〃
said Stacy with a grim smile。 〃Well； boys；〃 he said； with sudden
alacrity； 〃I'm going to turn in； for by sun…up to…morrow I must be
on my way to catch the first train at the Divide for 'Frisco。
We'll hunt this thing down together； for I reckon we're all
concerned in it；〃 he added； looking at the others； 〃and once more
we're partners as in the old times。 Let us even say that I've
given Barker's signal or password；〃 he added； with a laugh； 〃and
we'll stick together。 Barker boy；〃 he went on； grasping his
younger partner's hand； 〃your instinct has saved us this time；
dd if I don't sometimes think it better than any other man's
sabe； only；〃 he dropped his voice slightly； 〃I wish you had it in
other things than FINANCE。 Phil； I've a word to say to you alone
before I go。 I may want you to follow me。〃
〃But what can I do？〃 said Barker eagerly。 〃You're not going to
leave me out。〃
〃You've done quite enough for us； old man；〃 said Stacy； laying his
hand on Barker's shoulder。 〃And it may be for US to do something
for YOU。 Trot off to bed now； like a good boy。 I'll keep you
posted when the time comes。〃
Shoving the protesting and leave…taking Barker with paternal
familiarity from the room； he closed the door and faced Demorest。
〃He's the best fellow in the world；〃 said Stacy quietly； 〃and has
saved the situation； but we mustn't trust too much to him for the
presentnot even seem to。〃
〃Nonsense； man！〃 said Demorest impatiently。 〃You're letting your
prejudices go too far。 Do you mean to say that you suspect his
wife。〃
〃Dn his wife！〃 said Stacy almost savagely。 〃Leave her out of
this。 It's Van Loo that I suspect。 It was Van Loo who I knew was
behind it； who expected to profit by it； and now we have lost him。〃
〃But how？〃 said Demorest； astonished。
〃How？〃 repeated Stacy impatiently。 〃You know what Barker said？
Van Loo； either through stupidity； fright； or the wish to get the
lowest prices； was too late to buy up the market。 If he had； we
might have openly declared the forgery； and if it was known that he
or his friends had profited by it； even if we could not have proven
his actual complicity； we could at least have made it too hot for
him in California。 But；〃 said Stacy； looking intently at his
friend； 〃do you know how the case stands now？〃
〃Well；〃 said Demorest； a little uneasily under his friend's keen
eyes； 〃we've lost that chance； but we've kept control of the
stock。〃
〃You think so？ Well； let me tell you how the case stands and the
price we pay for it；〃 said Stacy deliberately； as he folded his
arms and gazed at Demorest。 〃You and I； well known as old friends
and former partners； for no apparent reasonfor we cannot prove
the forgery nowhave thrown upon the market all our stock； with
the usual effect of depreciating it。 Another old friend and former
partner has bought it in and sent up the price。 A common trick； a
vulgar trick； but not a trick worthy of James Stacy or Stacy's
Bank！〃
〃But why not simply declare the forgery without making any specific
charge against Van Loo？〃
〃Do you imagine； Phil； that any man would believe it； and the story
of a providentially appointed friend like Barker who saved us from
loss？ Why； all California； from Cape Mendocino to Los Angeles；
would roar with laughter over it！ No！ We must swallow it and the
reputation of 'jockeying' with the Wheat Trust； too。 That Trust's
as good as done for； for the present！ Now you know why I didn't
want poor Barker to know it； nor have much to do with our search
for the forger。〃
〃It would break the dear fellow's heart if he knew it；〃 said
Demorest。
〃Well； it's to save him from having his heart broken further that I
intend to find out this forger；〃 said Stacy grimly。 〃Good…night；
Phil！ I'll telegraph to you when I want you； and then COME！〃
With another grip of the hand he left Demorest to his thoughts。 In
the first excitement of meeting his old partners； and in the later
discovery of the forgery； Demorest had been diverted from his old
sorrow； and for the time had forgotten it in sympathetic interest
with the present。 But； to his horror； when alone again； he found
that interest growing as remote and vapid as the stories they had
laughed over at the table； and even the excitement of the forged
letter and its consequences began to be as unreal； as impotent； as
shadowy； as the memory of the attempted robbery in the old cabin on
that very spot。 He was ashamed of that selfishness which still
made him cling to this past； so much his own； that he knew it
debarred him from the human sympathy of his comrades。 And even
Barker； in whose courtship and marriage he had tried to resuscitate
his youthful emotions and condone his selfish errorseven the
suggestion of his unhappiness only touched him vaguely。 He would
no longer be a slave to the Past； or the memory that had deluded
him a few hours ago。 He walked to the window； alas； there was the
same prospect that had looked upon his dreams； had lent itself to
his old visions。 There was the eternal outline of the hills； there
rose the steadfast pines； there was no change in THEM。 It was this
surrounding constancy of nature that had affected him。 He turned
away and entered the bedroom。 Here he suddenly remembered that the
mother of this vague enemy； Van Loo；for his feeling towards him
was still vague； as few men really hate the personality they don't
know；had only momentarily vacated it； and to his distaste of his
own intrusion was now added the profound irony of his sleeping in
the same bed lately occupied by the mother of the man who was
suspected of having forged his name。 He smiled faintly and looked
around the apartment。 It was handsomely furnished； and although it
still had much of the characterlessness of the hotel room； it was
distinctly flavored by its last occupant； and still brightened by
that mysterious instinct of the sex which is inevitable。 Where a
man would have simply left his forgotten slippers or collars there
was a glass of still unfaded flowers； the cold marble top of the
dressing…table was littered with a few linen and silk toilet
covers； and on the mantel…shelf was a sheaf of photographs。 He
walked towards them mechanically； glanced at them abstractedly； and
then stopped suddenly with a beating heart。 Before him was the
picture of his past； the photograph of the one woman who had filled
his life！
He cast a hurried glance around the room as if he half expected to
see the original start up before him； and then eagerly seized it
and hurried with it to the light。 Yes！ yes！ It was SHE；she as
she had lived in his actual memory； she as she had lived in his
dream。 He saw her sweet eyes； but the frightened； innocent trouble
had passed from them； there was the sensitive elegance of her
graceful figure in evening dress； but the figure was fuller and
maturer。 Could he be mistaken by some wonderful resemblance acting
upon his too willing brain？ He turned the photograph over。 No；
there on the other side； written in her own childlike hand；
endeared and familiar to his recollection； was her own name； and
the date！ It was surely she！
How did it come there？ Did the Van Loos know her？ It was taken in
Venice； there was the address of the photographers。 The Van Loos
were foreigners； he remembered； they had traveled； perhaps had met
her there in 1858： that was the date in her handwriting； that was
the date on the photographer's address1858。 Suddenly he laid the
photograph down； took with trembling fingers a letter…case from his
pocket； opened it； and laid his last letter to her； indorsed with
the cruel announcement of her death； before him on the table。 He
passed his hand across his forehead and opened the letter。 It was
dated 1856！ The photograph must have been taken two years AFTER
her alleged death！