IV.
A year later, Mr. Charles Martin Templeton, of Philadelphia, faced in his office a young man who had evidently obtained admittance by guile. The visitor admitted that he had no claim upon Mr. Templeton’s attention save that he had once been the latter’s guest some six years before.
“It’s the matter of that check,” he said determinedly. “You must remember. I had a luncheon forced on me that should have been your luncheon party, because I was a poor young man. I gave a check that was really a pretty good check, only slow, but your wife went around ruining me just the same. To this day it meets me wherever I go, and I want compensation.”
“Is this blackmail?” demanded Mr. Templeton, his eyes growing hostile.
“No, I only want justice,” said Val. “I couldn’t make money during the boom. H
