"Let me go, you young devil!"
Mr. James McAuley in that same scurried moment had seen and picked up the cheque. He echoed in graver tone—
"Let him go, Melba, don't be a fool! Mr. Brassington," he added, "you would really have been wiser to have done this last night. We had no intention to put any indignity upon you, but you know we had a right to our money. After all, we warned you. …"
Then, seeing the typewritten sheet unsigned, he said—
"It 's no good to us without this, Mr. Brassington."
Mr. Higginson, lowering and furtive like a caged cheetah, snarled and pulled the paper towards him. It was stamped with the business heading of the Brassington firm. It was brief and to the point:
"James McAuley, Esq.
"Dear Sir,
"After consultation with those best fitted to advise me, I have decided, though I still regard the necessity placed upon me as a grievous injustice, to liquidate my son's foolish debt.
"I enclose my cheque for £2,000, for which
