stopped.
âDid she mention my name?â
âI mentioned it. She wouldnât admit even that she knew you.â
There was a pause.
âI donât blame her,â Dick remarked enigmatically. âShe must think me a cad.â
Another pause.
âWell, what about it all, anyhow?â Dick went on finally. âThe plate has been returned, therefore the matter is at an end.â
âNow look here, Dick,â said Hatch. âI want to say something, and donât go crazy, please, until I finish. I know an awful lot about this affairâthings the police never will know. I havenât printed anything much for obvious reasons.â
Dick looked at him apprehensively.
âGo on,â he urged.
âI could print things I know,â the reporter resumed; âswear out a warrant for you in connection with the gold plate affair and have you arrested and convicted on your own statements, supplemented by those of Miss Meredith. Yet, remember, please, neither your name nor hers has been mentioned as yet.â
Dick took it calmly; he only stared.
âDo you believe that I stole the plate?â he asked.
âCertainly I do not,â replied Hatch, âbut I can prove that you did ; prove it to the satisfaction of any jury in the world, and no denial of yours would have any effect.â
âWell?â asked Dick, after a moment.
âFurther, I can, on information in my possession, swear out a warrant for Miss Meredith, prove she was in the automobile, and convict her as your accomplice. Now thatâs a silly state of affairs, isnât it?â
âBut, man, you canât believe that she had anything to do with it! Sheâsâsheâs not that kind.â
âI could take oath that she didnât have anything to do with it, but all the same I can prove that she did,â replied Hatch. âNow what I am getting at is this: if the police should happen to find out what I know they would send you upâboth of you.â
âWell, you are decent about it, old man, and I appreciate it,â said Dick warmly. âBut what can we do?â
âIt behoves usâMiss Meredith and you and myselfâto get the true facts in the case all together before you get pinched,â said the reporter judicially. âSuppose now, just suppose, that we three get together and tell each other the truth for a change, the whole truth, and see what will happen?â
âIf I should tell you the truth,â said Dick dispassionately, âit would bring everlasting disgrace on Miss Meredith, and Iâd be a beast for doing it; if she told you the truth she would unquestionably send me to prison for theft.â
âBut hereââ Hatch expostulated.
âJust a minute!â Dick disappeared into another room, leaving the reporter to chew on what he had, then returned in a little while, dressed for the street. âNow, Hatch,â he said, âIâm going to try to get to Miss Meredith, but I donât believe sheâll see me. If she will, I may be able to explain several things that will clear up this affair in your mind, at any rate. If I donât see herâ By the way, did her father arrive from Baltimore?â
âYes.â
âGood!â exclaimed Dick. âIâll see him, tooâmake a show-down of it, and when itâs all over Iâll let you know what happened.â
Hatch went back to his shop and threatened to kick the office boy into the wastebasket.
At just about that moment Mr. Meredith, in the Greyton home, was reading a card on which appeared the name, âMr. Richard Hamilton Herbert.â Having read it, he snorted his indignation and went into the reception-room. Dick arose to greet him and offered a hand, which was promptly declined.
âIâd like to ask you, Mr. Meredith,â Dick began with a certain steely coldness in his manner, âjust why you object to my