They were beginning to mean something to him, and he saw that the bank was a worm-eaten shell.

When he discovered that Brownwell's notes were not made for bona fide loans, but that they were made to cover Barclay's overdrafts, he began to find the truth, and then when he found that Colonel Culpepper had lent the money back to the bank that he borrowed from Brownwell,--also to save John's overdrafts,--Bob Hendricks' soul burned pale with rage.

He found that John had borrowed far beyond the limit of his credit at the bank to buy the company's stock, and that he had used Culpepper and Brownwell to protect his account when it needed protection.

Hendricks went about his work silently, serving the bank's customers, and greeting his neighbours pleasantly, but his heart was full of a lust to do some bodily hurt to John Barclay.

When John came back, he sauntered into the bank so airily that Hendricks could not put the hate into his hands that was in his breast.