Paul
had only to say "Peter Starr"' to Mr. Breslin, and the latter was
ready to be at the bungaloafers' camp. So the story was unwinding.
"Do you really feel able to talk?" asked the millionaire banker. "I
will insist now--you got, the better of me once, Peter."
"Yes, Mr. Starr," Cora added to the request. "Do be careful."
"And she asks me to be careful!" He actually seized Cora in his
trembling arms. "She! Why she risked her life for us. It was she
who found my Laurel! She who came to us at night to be sure we
would not repel her! She who followed up that--"
"Oh, please, hush!" Cora begged, "or it will be she who causes your
relapse," she insisted.
"Indeed no," and the man held in his hands before him the flushed
face of Cora. "What you have done cannot be told of in this rude
way."
"Father, I'll be jealous," said Laurel, trying to relieve the
tension.
Cora slipped away. It was Mr. Breslin who spoke next.
"And you really remember?" he asked of Mr. Starr. "How was it that
you ran away?"
"The bank president's name had been forged to a check for ten
thousand dollars!"
"Yes, I know that well," said Mr. Breslin.
"And they traced the forgery to me!"
"But you knew you were innocent!"
"I knew it, but I was frightened by the accusation, and they had
found trials of the signature in my desk!"
"I have a letter that explains that," Cora imparted, and then she
told how Brentano had confessed to the forgery, and to his almost
hypnotic influence over Mr.
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