But he dodged with a defensive gesture as the pane of glass almost leaped from its casing, as Scannel stormed across the threshold.

Jadwin turned to Hargus, with a solemn wink.

“He did slam it after all, didn’t he?”

The old fellow, however, sat fingering the two checks in silence. Then he looked up at Jadwin, scared and trembling.

“I⁠—I don’t know,” he murmured, feebly. “I am a very old man. This⁠—this is a great deal of money, sir. I⁠—I can’t say; I⁠—I don’t know. I’m an old man⁠ ⁠… an old man.”

“You won’t lose ’em, now?”

“No, no. I’ll deposit them at once in the Illinois Trust. I shall ask⁠—I should like.”

“I’ll send a clerk with you.”