Fifteen minutes later the rasping, arrogant “honk” of a motor horn came from the road outside.  Heavy, important steps sounded upon the office platform.  The door opened and in came Mr. E. Holliday Kendnick.

Captain Obed had known of the great man’s expected arrival, but he had not expected it so early in the day.  E. Holliday wore a luxurious fur-lined coat and looked as prosperous and important as ever, but also—­so it seemed to the captain—­he looked disturbed and puzzled and angry.

The captain rose to his feet and said, “Good morning,” but except for a nod of recognition, his greeting was unanswered.  Mr. Kendrick slammed the door behind him, stalked across the office, took a letter from his pocket and threw it down upon his attorney’s desk.

“What’s the meaning of that?” he demanded.

John was perfectly calm.  “Sit down, Mr. Kendrick,” he said.

“No, I won’t sit down.  What the devil do you mean by sending me that thing?  You expected me, didn’t you?  You got my wire saying I was coming.”

“Yes, I got it.  Sit down.  I have a good deal to say and it may take some time.  Throw off your coat.”

E. Holliday threw the fur coat open, but he did not remove it.  He jerked a chair forward and seated himself upon it.

“Now what does that thing mean?” he demanded, pointing to the envelope he had tossed on the desk.

John picked up the envelope and opened it.  A letter and a bank check fell out.

“I will explain,” he said quietly.  “Mr. Kendrick, you know Captain Obed Bangs, I think.  Oh, it is all right.  The captain is here at my request.  I asked him to be here.  I wanted a reliable witness and he is reliable.  This,” he went on, taking up the letter, “is a note I wrote you, Mr. Kendrick.  It states that I am resigning my position as your attorney.  And this,” picking up the other paper, “is my check for five hundred dollars, the amount of your retainer, which I am returning to you. . . .  You understand this so far, Captain?”

E. Holliday did not wait to hear whether the captain understood or not.  His big face flamed red.

“But what the devil?” he demanded.

John held up his hand.

“One moment, please,” he said.  “Captain Bangs, I want to explain a few things.  As you know, I have been acting as Mr. Kendrick’s attorney in the matter of the property occupied by Mrs. Barnes.  He wished me to find a means of forcing her to sell that property to him.  Now, when a person owning property does not wish to sell, that person cannot be forced into giving up the property unless it is discovered that the property doesn’t belong to that particular person.  That’s plain, isn’t it?”

He was speaking to Captain Obed, and the captain answered.

“But it does belong to her,” he declared.  “Her Uncle Abner Barnes willed it to her.  Course it belongs to her!”