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.