there, and worst of all, Sam Yates must have discovered him.  The instruments that he had employed, at a considerable cost, to ascertain whether Benedict were alive or dead had proved false to him.  The discovery that Sam Yates was a traitor made him tremble.  It was from him that he had procured the autographs on which two of his forgeries were based.  He sat down immediately, and wrote a friendly letter to Yates, putting some business into his hands, and promising more.  Then he wrote to his agent, telling him of his interest in Yates, and of his faithful service, and directing him to take the reformed man under his wing, and, as far as possible, to attach him to the interests of the concern.

Two days afterward, he looked out of his window and saw Mr. Balfour descending the steps of his house with a traveling satchel in his hand.  Calling Phipps, he directed him to jump into the first cab, or carriage, pay double price, and make his way to the ferry that led to the Washington cars, see if Balfour crossed at that point, and learn, if possible, his destination.  Phipps returned in an hour and a half with the information that the lawyer had bought a ticket for Washington.

Then Mr. Belcher knew that trouble was brewing, and braced himself to meet it.  In less than forty-eight hours, Balfour would know, either that he had been deceived by Benedict, or that a forgery had been committed.  Balfour was cautious, and would take time to settle this question in his own mind.

CHAPTER XXIV.

WHEREIN THE GENERAL LEAPS THE BOUNDS OF LAW, FINDS HIMSELF IN A NEW WORLD, AND BECOMES THE VICTIM OF HIS FRIENDS WITHOUT KNOWING IT.

For several weeks the General had been leading a huge and unscrupulous combination for “bearing” International Mail.  The stock had ruled high for a long time—­higher than was deemed legitimate by those familiar with its affairs—­and the combination began by selling large blocks of the stock for future delivery, at a point or two below the market.  Then stories about the corporation began to be circulated upon the street, of the most damaging character—­stories of fraud, peculation, and rapidly diminishing business—­stories of maturing combinations against the company—­stories of the imminent retirement of men deemed essential to the management.  The air was full of rumors.  One died only to make place for another, and men were forced to believe that where there was so much smoke there must be some fire.  Still the combination boldly sold.  The stock broke, and went down, down, down, day after day, and still there were strong takers for all that offered.  The operation had worked like a charm to the point where it was deemed prudent to begin to re-purchase, when there occurred one of those mysterious changes in the market which none could have foreseen.  It was believed that the market had been oversold, and the holders held.  The combination was short, and up went the stock by