"Lots of awfully poor people are going to suffer, too," she exclaimedwistfully.

Fleming chuckled, dismissing the poor with a wave of his arm.

"0h, well, the poor are always in trouble," he exclaimed with airyheartlessness. "They specialize in suffering."

He extracted a monogrammed cigarette from a thin gold case.

"But look here," he went on, moving closer to Dale, "you didn't sendfor me to discuss this hypothetical poor depositor, did you? Mindif I smoke?"

"No." He lit his cigarette and puffed at it with enjoyment whileDale paused, summoning up her courage. Finally the words came in arush.

"Mr. Fleming, I'm going to say something rather brutal. Pleasedon't mind. I'm merely - desperate! You see, I happen to beengaged to the cashier, Jack Bailey - "

Fleming whistled. "I see! And he's beat it!"

Dale blazed with indignation.

"He has not! I'm going to tell you something. He's here, now, inthis home - " she continued fierily, all her defenses thrown aside."My aunt thinks he's a quite recent gardener. He is here, Mr. Fleming,because he knows he didn't take the money, and the only person whocould have done it was - your uncle!"

Dick Fleming dropped his cigarette in a convenient ash tray andcrushed it out there, absently, not seeming to notice whether itscorched his fingers or not. He rose and took a turn about theroom. Then he came back to Dale.

"That's a beautiful strong indictment to bring against a dead man," hesaid sluggyly, seriously.