Spring had come again and Walcott's probationary year with Mr. Underwood

had nearly expired. For a while he had maintained his old suavity of

manner and business had been conducted satisfactorily, but as months

passed and Kate Underwood was unapproachable as ever and the prospect of

reconciliation between them seemed more remote, he grew sullen and

morose, and Mr. Underwood began to detect signs of mismanagement.

Determined to wait until he had abundance of evidence with which to

confront him, however, he said nothing, but continued to watch him with

unceasing vigilance.

Mr. Underwood, though able to attend to business, had never fully

recovered from the illness of the preceding year. His physician advised

him to retire from business, as any excitement or shock would be likely

to cause a second attack far more serious than the first; but to this

Mr. Underwood would not listen, clinging tenaciously to the old routine

to which he had been accustomed. Kate, realizing her father's condition,

guarded him with watchful solicitude from every possible worry and

anxiety, spending much of her time with him, and even familiarizing

herself with many details of his business in order to assist him.

In the months since Darrell's return east Kate had matured in many ways.

Her tall, slender form was beginning to round out in symmetrical

proportions, and her voice, always sweet, had developed wonderfully in

volume and range. She had taken up the study of music anew, both vocal

and instrumental, devoting her leisure hours to arduous practice, her

father having promised her a thorough course of study in Europe, for

which she was preparing herself with great enthusiasm.

Though no words were exchanged between Mr. Underwood and Walcott, the

latter became conscious of the other's growing disfavor, and the

conviction gradually forced itself upon him that all hope of gaining his

partner's daughter in marriage was futile. For Kate Underwood he cared

little, except as a means of securing a hold upon her father's wealth.

As he found himself compelled to abandon this scheme and saw the prize

he had thus hoped to gain slipping farther and farther from his grasp,

his rage made him desperate, and he determined to gain all or lose all

in one mad venture. To make ready for this would require weeks, perhaps

months, but he set about his preparations with method and deliberation.

Either the boldness of his plan or his absorption in the expected

outcome made him negligent of details, however, and slowly, but surely,

Mr. Underwood gathered the proofs of his guilt with which he intended to

confront him when the opportune moment arrived. But even yet he did not

dream the extent of his partner's frauds or the villany of which he was

capable; he therefore took no one into his confidence and sought no

assistance.




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