“So you see no way of getting back that three hundred dollars.  Well, there’s got to be a way!  We can’t afford to lose it!”

“Lose what?” asked Mr. Denton, coming in just then.

Mr. Forbes hastily repeated the detective’s information.

“You say the mother is penniless and young Watkins critically ill?  Well, I should think that was trouble enough for one family,” said Mr. Denton slowly.  “Mr. Forbes, it is my wish that you should stop right here!  I wish you to drop the matter of the money completely.”

“What!”

Mr. Forbes wheeled around in his chair and stared at his partner.

“I mean it,” said Mr, Denton, “and, what is more, I command it!  As senior partner of this firm I expect my orders to be respected!”

Mr. Forbes made a heroic effort at self-control.  When he could trust his voice he attempted to answer.

“Perhaps you have forgotten, Mr. Denton, that we are drawing on our funds very heavily this week.  There are those alterations in the basement to satisfy the Board of Health and two hundred dollars for that Miss Jennings’ funeral.  Neither of these expenses would have been incurred if I had not been absent so much of late; but is it wise, do you think, to add to these the three hundred that Sam Watkins robbed us of?”

Mr. Denton seemed to ignore the last half of the sentence.  His mind was dwelling upon the other things mentioned.

“What I have not forgotten, Mr. Forbes, is this,” he said, quietly:  “That funeral that you speak of has given us one of the biggest free ‘ads.’ that this firm has ever enjoyed.  Why, the space it occupies in one paper alone is worth at least a thousand dollars!  And, so far as the alterations are concerned—­well, I have just ordered them stopped.  I’m going to close up that room to employees altogether!”

If the sky had fallen Mr. Forbes could not have been any more surprised.  Even the hardened detective almost gasped in astonishment.

“But you have no right to do this,” growled Mr. Forbes.  “You should consult your partners in such matters, Mr. Denton.”

Mr. Denton smiled grimly at the angry man’s words.

“You are partners, nominally, yes,” he said slowly, “but I hardly think it would pay either you or Mr. Day to oppose me.”

His words were very true, as Mr. Forbes well knew.  Both he and Mr. Day were deeply indebted to their senior partner.  He “owned them body and soul,” as many persons would express it.

“I have been doing a lot of thinking in the past two days, Mr. Forbes,” went on Mr. Denton, “but as you would hardly appreciate my sentiments, I will keep my thoughts to myself a little longer.  Here, Hardy, you are excused from the Watkins affair!  Go back to your duties in the store, and see that you are very careful not to annoy any innocent persons.”

Bob Hardy made his way out of the office almost in a daze.  He had been in the service of the store ever since it was opened, but such instructions as these meant a brand-new departure.