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The truth was, there had always been soh nobody knew better than Jackson Hyane how unsubstantial

were the claims of the Whitlands to the title But the Scottish estate

had been docketed away in the pigeon-holes of his mind, and promised to

be more useful than he had anticipated

That afternoon he packed his bag at his flat, put his passport and

railway tickets together in his inside pocket, and made his final

preparations for departure

An old crony of his called whilst he was drinking the cup of tea which

the housekeeper of the flats had prepared, and took in the situation

revealed by the packed suit-cases and the burnt papers in the hearth

"Hello, Johnny!" he said "You're getting out, eh?"

Jackson nodded There was no need to pretend anything with one of his

own class

"Couldn't you square the bank?"

Jackson shook his head

"No, Billy," he said cheerfully, "I couldn't square it At this

identical moment there are several e applications for warrants"

"Dud cheques, eh?" asked the other thoughtfully "Well, it had to

come, Johnny You've had a lot of bad luck"

"Atrocious," said Mr Jackson Hyane "There's plenty of et at it I haven't touched a

for two months, and I've backed more seconds than I care to think