I thought the original must have gone astray." Carlton cursed him inwardly for sending the bill.

But then, he reasoned, it was only a question of time, after all, when the forgery would be discovered.
Drummond dropped into a half-confidential, half-quizzing tone.

"I thought not.

Somewhere along the line that check has been stolen and raised to twenty-five thousand dollars," he remarked.
"Is that so ?" gasped Carlton, trying hard to show just the right amount of surprise and not too much.

"Is that so ?" "No doubt you have read in the papers of this clever realty company swindle?
Well, it seems to have been part of that." "I am sure that we shall be glad to do all in our power to cooperate with Reynolds," put in Dunlap.
"I thought you would," commented Drummond dryly.