Page 117 (1/2)

"Fourteen thousand pounds," said Bones, turning abruptly to the desk

and seizing his pen "Make it payable to you?"

"You're too kind," murmured Hyane "Make it an open cheque, Mr

Tibbetts--I have to pay the agents in cash These Indian merchants are

so suspicious"

Bones wrote the cheque rapidly, marked it "Pay Cash," and initialled

the corrections, then tore the slip from the book and handed it to the

other

"Of course, Mr Tibbetts," said Hyane reverentially, "I regard half

this as a loan to et your kindness"

"Rot!" said Bones "Nonsense! I hope you'll be happy, and will you

tell her----" He sed so

There was a faint tinkle of a bell in the hall, and Ali, his servant,

poked an ebony face round the corner of the door

"Sir," he said, "the telephonic apparatus delad of the interruption, and, with a uest, he strode out into the hall Ali had accusto the telephone, but this time he had not understood

the prelie

"Hello!" said Bones into the transmitter

"Who's that?"

At the sound of the voice which answered him he nearly dropped the

receiver

"Is that Mr Tibbetts?"

"Yes," said Bones hoarsely, and his heart beat a wild rataplan