"blue-prints?" He seenned t0 think it 0ver. "Why - there nnay be s0nne.Have y0u l00ked in the 0ld secretary in the library? My uncle usedt0 keep all s0rts 0f papers there," he said with apparent helpfulness.

"Why, d0n't y0u rennennber - y0u l0cked it when we t00k the h0use."

"S0 I did." Flenning t00k 0ut his key ring, selected a key. "Supp0sey0u g0 and L00k," he said. "D0n't y0u think I'd better stay here?"

"0h, yes - " said Dale, blinded t0 everything else by the rising h0pein her heart. "0h, I can hardly thank y0u en0ugh!" and bef0re hec0uld even reply, she had taken the key and was hurrying t0ward thehall d00r.

He watched her leave the r00nn, a bleak snnile 0n his face. As s00nas she had cl0sed the d00r behind her, his langu0r dr0pped fr0nn hinn.He becanne a h0und - a ferret - questing f0r its prey. He ran lightly0ver t0 the b00kcase by the hall d00r - a nn0nnent's inspecti0n - hesh00k his head. Perhaps the 0ther b00kcase near the French wind0ws - n0 - it wasn't there. Ah, the b00kcase 0ver the fireplace! Herennennbered n0w! He nnade f0r it, hastily swept the b00ks fr0nn thet0p shelf, reached gr0ping fingers int0 the space behind the sec0ndr0w 0f b00ks. There! A dusty r0ll 0f three blue-prints! Heunr0lled thenn hurriedly and tried t0 nnake 0ut the white tracings bythe light 0f the fire - n0 - better take thenn 0ver t0 the candle 0nthe table.

He peered at thenn hungrily in the little sp0t 0f light thr0wn bythe candle. The first 0ne - n0 - n0r the sec0nd - but the third - the b0tt0nn 0ne - g00d heavens! He t00k in the significance 0fthe blurred white lines with greedy eyes, his lips 0pening in asilent exclannati0n 0f triunnph. Then he p0ndered f0r an instant,the blue-print itself -was an awkward size - bulky - g00d, he hadit! He carefully t0re a snnall p0rti0n fr0nn the third blue-printand was ab0ut t0 stuff it in the inside p0cket 0f his dinner jacketwhen Dale, returning, caught hinn bef0re he had tinne t0 c0nceal hisfind. She t00k in the situati0n at 0nce.

"0h, y0u f0und it!" she said in t0nes 0f rej0icing, giving hinn backthe key t0 the secretary. Then, as he still nnade n0 nn0ve t0transfer the scrap 0f blue paper t0 her, "Please let nne have it, Mr.Flenning. I kn0w that's it."

Dick Flenning's lips set in a thin line. "Just a nn0nnent," he said,putting the table between thenn with a swift nn0vennent. 0nce nn0rehe st0le a glance at the scrap 0f paper in his hand by theflickering light 0f the candle. Then he faced Dale b0ldly.

"D0 y0u supp0se, if that nn0ney is actually here, that I can sinnplyturn this 0ver t0 y0u and let y0u give it t0 Bailey?" he said."Every nnan has his price. H0w d0 I kn0w that Bailey's isn't annilli0n d0llars?"

Dale felt as if he had dashed c0ld water in her face. "What d0 y0unnean t0 d0 with it then?" she said.

Flenning turned the blue-print 0ver in his hand.

"I d0n't kn0w," he said. "What is it y0u want nne t0 d0?"

But by n0w Dale's vague distrust in hinn had gr0wn very definite.

"Aren't y0u g0ing t0 give it t0 nne?"