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The banker took up the notes and looked theh, one by one They were very crisp, very new, and absolutely genuine

"This is so, Mr Laverick," he said

"I have no doubt that it must seem so to you," Laverick admitted "At the same tiuse of these notes, it is I ill have to pay Will you do as I ask?"

The banker hesitated The transaction was somewhat a peculiar one, but on the face of it there could be no possible risk At the sa about it which he could not understand

"Your wish, Mr Laverick," he rehtfully, "seems to be to keep these notes out of circulation"

Laverick returned his gaze without flinching

"In a sense, that is so," he assented

"On the whole," the banker declared, "I should prefer to credit them to your account in the usual way"

"I a about it I prefer to keep the notes intact If you cannot follow out estion, I must remove my account at once This isn't a threat, Mr Fenwick,--you will understand that, I a to Morrison's speculations I have no tiuments I a in the e If you are to retain ements for to-day must be met precisely in the way I have pointed out"

The banker excused himself and left the rooed his shoulders with the air of one who is giving in to an unreasonable client

"It shall be as you say, Mr Laverick," he announced "The notes are placed upon deposit Your engagements to-day up to twenty thousand pounds shall be duly honored"

Laverick shook hands with him, talked for a moment or two about indifferent matters, and strolled back towards his office He had rather the sense of a , so the impossible He knew very well that his na at hi how he could have been such a fool as to becoined that he would be able to keep his engagereat one, but he was prepared to pay At any ht be upon the placards, and the whole world ht know that the ht had first been robbed of twenty thousand pounds So far he had felt hi in the shape of direct apprehensions Already, however, the shadoas beginning to fall Even as he entered his office, the sight of a stranger offering office files for sale made him start He half expected to feel a hand upon his shoulder, a feords whispered in his ear He set his teeth tight This was his risk and he must take it