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Chapter 09
1. An amount of money to be received in the future is worth less today than the stated amount.
True False
2. Discounting refers to the growth process that turns $1 today into a greater value several
periods in the future.
True False
3. Compounding refers to the growth process that turns $1 today into a greater value several
periods in the future.
True False
4. The interest factor for the future value of a single sum is equal to (1 + n) i.
True False
5. The time value of money is not a useful concept in determining the value of a bond or in
capital investment decisions.
True False
9-1
Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
6. If a single amount were put on deposit at a given interest rate and allowed to grow, its future
value could be determined by reference to a "future value of $1" table.
True False
7. The time value of money concept is fundamental to the analysis of cash inflow and outflow
decisions covering multiple periods of time.
True False
8. The future value is the same concept as the way money grows in a bank account.
True False
9. Cash flow decisions that ignore the time value of money will probably not be as accurate as
those decisions that do rely on the time value of money.
True False
10. The present value of a positive future inflow can become negative as discount rates become
higher and higher.
True False
11. The interest factor for a future value (FVIF) is equal to (1 + i)n.
True False
12. The formula PV = FV(1 + n)i will determine the present value of $1.
True False
9-2
Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
13. In determining the interest factor (IF) for the present value of $1, one could use the reciprocal
of that IF for the future value of $1 at the same rate and time period.
True False
14. To determine the current worth of four annual payments of $1,000 at 4%, one would refer to a
table for the present value of $1.
True False
15. As the interest rate increases, the interest factor (IF) for the present value of $1 increases.
True False
16. The interest factor for the present value of a single amount is the reciprocal of the future
value interest factor.
True False
17. The interest factor for the present value of a single sum is equal to (1 + i)/i.
True False
18. Higher interest rates (discount rates) reduce the present value of amounts to be received in
the future.
True False
19. In determining the future value of an ordinary annuity, the final payment is not compounded at
all.
True False
9-3
Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
20. The future value of an ordinary annuity assumes that the payments are received at the end of
the year and that the last payment does not compound.
True False
21. The future value of an annuity table provides a "shortcut" for calculating the future value of a
steady stream of payments, denoted as A. The same value can be calculated directly from the
following equation:
True False
22. The present value of an annuity table provides a "shortcut" for calculating the future value of
a steady stream of payments, denoted as A. The same value can be calculated directly from
the following equation:
True False
23. The amount of annual payments necessary to accumulate a desired total can be found by
reference to the present value of an annuity table.
True False
24. If an individual's cost of capital were 6%, the person would prefer to receive $110 at the end of
one year rather than $100 right now.
True False
9-4
Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
25. In evaluating capital investment projects, current outlays must be judged against the current
value of future benefits.
True False
26. The farther into the future any given amount is received, the larger its present value.
True False
27. The interest factor for the future value of an annuity is simply the sum of the interest factors
for the future value using the same number of periods.
True False
True False
29. Using semi-annual compounding rather than annual compounding will increase the future
value of an annuity.
True False
30. When the inflation rate is zero, the present value of $1 is identical to the future value of $1.
True False
31. The amount of annual payments necessary to repay a mortgage loan can be found by
reference to the present value of an annuity table.
True False
9-5
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McGraw-Hill Education.
32. In paying off a mortgage loan, the amount of the periodic payment that goes toward the
reduction of principal increases over the life of the mortgage.
True False
33. The time value of money concept becomes less critical as the prime rate of lending increases.
True False
34. Discounted at 6%, $1,000 received three years from now is worth less than $800 received
today.
True False
35. Discounted at 10%, $1,000 received at the end of each year for three years is worth less than
$2,700 received today.
True False
36. When adjusting for semi-annual compounding of an annuity, the adjustments include
multiplying the periods and annuity payment amount by 2.
True False
37. Calculation of the yield of an investment provides the total return over multiple years.
True False
38. To calculate Future or Present Values of an "Annuity Due," we must assume that payments
happen twice as often.
True False
9-6
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Multiple Choice Questions
39. Under what conditions must a distinction be made between money to be received today and
money to be received in the future?
A. A period of recession
D. When current interest rates are different from expected future rates
40. As the compounding rate becomes lower and lower, the future value of inflows approaches
A. 0.
C. infinity.
41. If you invest $10,000 today at 10% interest, how much will you have in 10 years?
A. $13,860
B. $25,940
C. $3,860
D. $80,712
9-7
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McGraw-Hill Education.
42. In determining the future value of a single amount, one measures
43. The concept of time value of money is important to financial decision making because
B. it recognizes that earning a return makes $1 worth more today than $1 received in the
future.
C. it can be applied to future cash flows in order to compare different streams of income.
44. As the discount rate becomes higher and higher, the present value of inflows approaches
A. 0.
B. minus infinity.
C. plus infinity.
45. How much must you invest at 8% interest in order to see your investment grow to $8,000 in 10
years?
A. $3,070
B. $3,704
C. $3,105
9-8
Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
46. An annuity may best be defined as
47. You are to receive $12,000 at the end of five years. The available yield on investments is 6%.
Which table would you use to determine the value of that sum today?
C. Present value of $1
D. Future value of $1
48. As the interest rate increases, the present value of an amount to be received at the end of a
fixed period
A. increases.
B. decreases.
9-9
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McGraw-Hill Education.
49. As the time period until receipt increases, the present value of an amount at a fixed interest
rate
A. decreases.
C. increases.
50. To find the yield on investment that requires the payment of a single amount initially, and
which then return a single amount some time in the future, the most efficient table one could
use is
D. None of these
51. Ali Shah sets aside $2,000 each year for five years. He then withdraws the funds on an equal
annual basis for the next four years. If Ali wishes to determine the amount of the annuity to be
withdrawn in years 6 through 9, he should use the following two tables in this order:
9-10
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McGraw-Hill Education.
52. To save for her newborn son's college education, Lea Wilson will invest $1,000 at the
beginning of each year for the next 18 years. The interest rate is 12%. What is the future
value?
A. $7,690
B. $34,931
C. $63,440
D. $62,440
53. If you were to put $1,000 in the bank at 6% interest each year for the next 10 years, which
table would you use to find the ending balance in your account?
A. Present value of $1
B. Future value of $1
54. The interest factor (IF) for the future value of an ordinary annuity is 4.641 at 10% for four
years. If we wish to accumulate $8,000 by the end of four years, how much should the annual
payments be?
A. $2,500
B. $2,000
C. $1,724
9-11
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McGraw-Hill Education.
55. Mr. Blochirt is creating a college investment fund for his daughter. He will put in $1,000 per
year for the next 15 years beginning one year from now and expects to earn a 6% annual rate
of return. How much money will his daughter have when she starts college?
A. $11,250
B. $12,263
C. $24,003
D. $23,276
56. Mr. Nailor invests $5,000 in a money market account at his local bank. He receives annual
interest of 8% for seven years. How much total return will his investment earn during this time
period?
A. $2,915
B. $3,570
C. $6,254
D. $8,570
57. Lou Lewis borrows $10,000 to be repaid over 10 years at 9%. Repayment of principal in the
first year is ______.
A. $1,558
B. $658
C. $742
D. $885
9-12
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58. Sharon Smith will receive $1 million in 50 years. The discount rate is 14%. As an alternative,
she can receive $1,000 today. Which should she choose?
B. $2,000 today.
59. Pedro Gonzalez will invest $5,000 at the beginning of each year for the next nine years. The
interest rate is 8%. What is the future value?
A. $58,471
B. $62,440
C. $67,435
D. $72,435
60. Ambrin Corp. expects to receive $2,000 per year for 10 years starting one year from now, and
$3,500 per year for the next 10 years at the end of each year. What is the approximate present
value of this 20-year cash flow? Use an 11% discount rate.
A. $19,034
B. $27,870
C. $32,389
9-13
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McGraw-Hill Education.
61. Dr. J. wants to buy a Dell computer that will cost $3,000 three years from today. He would like
to set aside an equal amount at the end of each year in order to accumulate the amount
needed. He can earn an 8% annual return. How much should he set aside beginning a year
from now?
A. $879
B. $627
C. $924
D. $1,243
62. Mr. Fish wants to build a house in eight years. He estimates that the total cost will be
$150,000. If he can put aside $10,000 at the end of each year, what rate of return must he
earn in order to have the amount needed?
C. 12%
63. Babe Ruth Jr. has agreed to play for the Cleveland Indians for $3 million per year for the next
10 years. What table would you use to calculate the value of this contract in today's dollars?
9-14
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64. Football player Walter Johnson signs a contract calling for payments of $250,000 per year, to
begin 10 years from now and then continue for five more years. To find the present value of
this contract, which table or tables should you use?
65. Mike Carlson will receive $12,000 a year from the end of the third year to the end of the 12 th
year (10 payments). The discount rate is 10%. The present value today of this deferred annuity
is ______.
A. $61,450
B. $42,185
C. $55,379
D. $60,909
66. The shorter the length of time between a present value and its corresponding future value,
C. the higher the interest rate used in the discounting to the present value.
9-15
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67. A dollar today is worth more than a dollar to be received in the future because
68. The higher the interest rate used in determining the future value of a $1 annuity,
D. None of these options. The interest has no effect on the future value of an annuity.
69. Mr. Darden is selling his house for $200,000. He bought it for $164,000 10 years ago. What is
the annual return on his investment?
A. 2%
B. Between 3% and 5%
C. 10%
70. Increasing the number of periods will increase all of the following except
9-16
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McGraw-Hill Education.
71. Joe Nautilus has $210,000 and wants to retire. What approximate return must his money earn
so he may receive annual benefits of $30,000 for the next 10 years?
A. 12%
C. About 7%
72. You will deposit $2,000 today. It will grow for six years at 10% interest compounded semi-
annually. You will then withdraw the funds annually over the next four years at the end of
each year. The annual interest rate is 8%. Your annual withdrawal will be approximately
______.
A. $2,340
B. $4,332
C. $797
D. $1,085
73. Carol Thomas will pay out $6,000 at the end of year 2, $8,000 at the end of year 3, and receive
$10,000 at the end of year 4. With an interest rate of 13%, what is the net value of the
payments versus receipts in today's dollars?
A. $7,326
B. $10,242
C. $16,372
D. $4,112
9-17
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74. John Doeber borrowed $150,000 to buy a house. His loan cost was 6% and he promised to
repay the loan in 15 equal annual payments. How much are the annual payments?
A. $3,633
B. $9,250
C. $13,113
D. $15,445
75. John Doeber borrowed $150,000 to buy a house. His loan cost was 6% and he promised to
repay the loan in 15 equal annual payments. What is the principal outstanding after the first
loan payment?
A. $143,555
B. $134,560
C. $141,200
76. A home buyer signed a 20-year, 8% mortgage for $72,500. Given the following information,
how much should the annual loan payments be?
A. $1,584
B. $7,384
C. $15,555
D. $15,588
9-18
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McGraw-Hill Education.
77. A retirement plan guarantees to pay to you or your estate a fixed amount for 20 years. At the
time of retirement, you will have $73,425 to your credit in the plan. The plan anticipates
earning 9% interest. Given the following information, how much will your annual benefits be?
A. $1,435
B. $13,070
C. $8,043
D. $13,102
78. After 10 years, 100 shares of stock originally purchased for $500 were sold for $900. What was
the yield on the investment? Choose the closest answer.
A. 19%
B. 2.5%
C. 8.5%
D. 6%
9-19
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McGraw-Hill Education.
79. Dr. Stein has just invested $10,000 for his son (age 7). The money will be used for his son's
education 15 years from now. He calculates that he will need $100,000 for his son's education
by the time the boy goes to school. What rate of return will Dr. Stein need to achieve this
goal?
80. The future value of a $500 investment today at 10% annual interest compounded
semiannually for five years is ______.
A. $805
B. $814
C. $750
D. $923
81. Dan would like to save $1,500,000 by the time he retires in 25 years and believes he can earn
an annual return of 8%. How much does he need to invest in each of the following years to
achieve his goal?
A. $20,518
B. $40,850
C. $18,900
D. $58,000
E. $25,304
9-20
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82. Sydney saved $10,000 during her first year of work after college and plans to invest it for her
retirement in 40 years. How much will she have available for retirement if she can make 8% on
her investment?
A. $596,250
B. $453,000
C. $345,100
D. $217,250
83. Luke believes that he can invest $5,000 per year for his retirement in 30 years. How much will
he have available for retirement if he can earn 8% on his investment and begins investing one
year from now?
A. $566,400
B. $681,550
C. $150,000
D. $162,000
84. Ian would like to save $2,000,000 by the time he retires in 40 years. If he believes that he can
achieve a 7% rate of return, how much does he need to deposit each year, starting one year
from now, to achieve his goal?
A. $12,065
B. $37,500
C. $5,790
D. $10,018
9-21
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McGraw-Hill Education.
85. Jeff believes he will need a $60,000 annual income during retirement. If he can achieve a 6%
return during retirement and believes he will live 20 years after retirement, how much does he
need to save by the time he retires, assuming he'll start drawing his money out one year after
his retirement?
A. $724,055
B. $1,600,000
C. $688,200
D. $209,320
86. If Allison has saved $1,000,000 upon retirement, how much can she live on each year if she
can earn 6% per year and will end with $0 when she expects to die 25 years after retirement?
A. $295,334
B. $20,953
C. $70,952
D. $78,229
87. Kathy has $50,000 to invest today and would like to determine whether it is realistic for her to
achieve her goal of buying a home for $150,000 in 10 years with this investment. What return
must she achieve in order to buy her home in 10 years?
A. About 12%
B. About 13%
C. About 9%
D. About 10%
9-22
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McGraw-Hill Education.
88. If Gerry makes a deposit of $1,500 at the end of each quarter for five years, how much will he
have at the end of the five years assuming a 12% annual return and quarterly compounding?
A. $40,305
B. $30,000
C. $108,078
D. $161,220
89. Sara would like to evaluate the performance of her portfolio over the past 10 years. What
compound annual rate of return has she achieved if she invested $12,000 10 years ago and
now has $25,000?
A. Between 8% and 9%
D. Between 7% and 8%
Matching Questions
9-23
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McGraw-Hill Education.
90. Match the following with the items below:
Essay Questions
9-24
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McGraw-Hill Education.
91. You have an opportunity to buy a $1,000 bond that matures in 10 years. The bond pays $30
every six months. The current market interest rate for similar bonds is 8%. What is the most
you would be willing to pay for this bond?
92. In January, 2000, Harold Black bought 100 shares of Country Homes for $37.50 per share. He
sold them in January 2010 for a total of $9,715.02. Calculate Harold's approximate annual rate
of return.
9-25
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McGraw-Hill Education.
93. Samuel Johnson invested in gold U.S. coins 10 years ago, paying $216.53 for one-ounce gold
"double eagle" coins. He could sell these coins for $734 today. What was his annual rate of
return for this investment?
94. Gary Kiraly wants to buy a new Italian sports car in three years. The vehicle is expected to
cost $80,000 at that time. If Gary should be so lucky as to find an investment yielding 12%
over that three-year period, how much would he have to invest now in order to accumulate
$80,000 at the end of the three years?
9-26
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McGraw-Hill Education.
95. Mr. Sullivan is borrowing $2 million to expand his business. The loan will be for 10 years at
12% and will be repaid in equal quarterly installments. What will the quarterly payments be?
96. Marcia Stubern is planning for her golden years. She will retire in 20 years, at which time she
plans to begin withdrawing $60,000 annually. She is expected to live for 20 years following her
retirement. Her financial advisor thinks she can earn 9% annually. How much does she need
to invest at the end of each year before she retires, to prepare for her financial needs after her
retirement?
9-27
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McGraw-Hill Education.
97. Sara Shouppe has invested $100,000 in an account at her local bank. The bank will pay her a
constant amount each year for six years, starting one year from today, and the account's
balance will be 0 at the end of the sixth year. If the bank has promised Ms. Shouppe a 10%
return, how much will they have to pay her each year?
98. Kimberly Ford invested $10,000 10 years ago at 16%, compounded quarterly. How much has
she accumulated?
9-28
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McGraw-Hill Education.
99. Sponge Bob will receive a payment of $5,000 per year for seven years beginning three years
from today. At a discount rate of 9%, what is the present value of this deferred annuity?
9-29
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McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 09 The Time Value of Money Answer Key
1. An amount of money to be received in the future is worth less today than the stated
amount.
TRUE
AACSB: Analytic
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: Basic
Learning Objective: 09-01 Money has a time value associated with it; therefore; a dollar received today is worth more than
a dollar received in the future.
2. Discounting refers to the growth process that turns $1 today into a greater value several
periods in the future.
FALSE
AACSB: Analytic
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: Basic
Learning Objective: 09-03 The present value is based on the current value of funds to be received.
3. Compounding refers to the growth process that turns $1 today into a greater value several
periods in the future.
TRUE
AACSB: Analytic
Blooms: Understand
9-30
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McGraw-Hill Education.
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Pallister, and he had fostered this belief, had held her within the
circle of conspiracy, had held her as one chargeable, too, with death
of the boy. It was a safe venture, for not once had he by word of
mouth connected himself with that tragedy. Indeed, he had not the
slightest idea as to who was responsible for it, but all through he felt
that Mrs. Peter V., believing him responsible, felt herself mixed up,
felt, too, perhaps, that they had gone too far. And, watching her out
of the tail of his eye, he held his glance impudently upon Wilkinson's
face.
"Not a threat, but a surmise," he answered in the same even tone.
"People have sought your life before, you know," he went on, his
face breaking out into a disagreeable smile, "and even you have
attempted suicide. If you should die, what would become of her?"
"When I die will be time enough to talk about it," snarled Wilkinson.
And thrusting his face now into that of the other, he demanded:
"Come, what's the game? Lay your cards down on the table—out
into the open. Why do you want a third ...?"
"Chiefly because I've earned it."
"Earned it! I took you out of the gutter, you ingrate!"
Flomerfelt shrugged his shoulders.
"If I haven't earned it so far, then I shall earn it in the future," he
said.
"How?"
"By keeping silent in the presence of one person."
"Who?"
Flomerfelt smiled, but did not answer.
"Leslie Wilkinson, of course," put in Mrs. Peter V.
"I don't understand," muttered Wilkinson, once more puffing on his
cigar. "Why silent in her presence? What's that to me?"
"It isn't necessary to go over the facts," returned Flomerfelt. "To be
brief, you've got a mint of money in her hands, which she knows
nothing about. You know where it is, the missus knows, and I know.
Some chaps in Vienna know, thirds for us, or tell her ...?"
Peter laughed aloud.
"Tell her if you want to," he roared. "But do you suppose she'd give
the game away? She! Why, she's the only trump I ever had about
me! She'll stick through thick and thin! Tell her and be hanged!"
Flomerfelt held up his hands, saying:
"I must say that you don't know your own daughter."
"You're a fool, Peter!" said his wife, sharply.
"The instant the girl knows, it's all up with you, my friend," went on
Flomerfelt. "But she needs managing, watching. It takes more than
you to manage, to watch her, too. What is it—thirds for us, or tell
her...."
Peter turned his back upon them.
"Tell her and be hanged!" he said.
Flomerfelt's eyes sought those of the lady. "What's the next move?"
hers seemed to ask of him. A smile of cunning crossed his face.
"Then, Peter, we'll tell the public," he ventured.
Peter swung about, crying:
"Ah, why didn't you get down to that in the first place! I can
understand that—I've understood it all along—you were bound to
hold me up. I'm used to that—have had it all my life. Now, look
here, Flomerfelt, I'm through with you—through with both of you.
But I'm willing to be fair. I bought Leech with a million dollars, as
you know. And I'll do the same with you—with her. You can take it or
leave it, just as you please."
"It's not enough," spoke up Flomerfelt.
"I should think not," said the lady.
Peter V. took out his watch and said:
"I'll give you just one minute to accept."
Flomerfelt took out his watch, and answered:
"I'll give you two minutes to divide with us."
At the end of a minute they were glaring into each other's faces like
beasts of prey. Wilkinson held up his hand and repeated:
"You can take it or leave it, just as you please."
"Thirds or nothing," answered the other stubbornly, at which reply
Wilkinson thrust his watch into his pocket and strolled toward the
door, where he waited until Flomerfelt raised his hand; and in that
brief moment it was borne in upon him that he was not the
Wilkinson of old, that he had, somehow, lost his grip.
"You decline?" asked Flomerfelt. "All right! Then to-morrow the
whole story goes to Leslie Wilkinson."
"What whole story, Mr. Flomerfelt?" asked a young woman, now
entering the room, and so pleasantly that for a moment Flomerfelt
fell back aghast.
"What story, Mr. Flomerfelt?" she repeated. But again he did not
answer. And her father, taking his courage in both hands, came
forward and said:
"The time has come, girlie, when you've got to make a choice for life
—you've got to tell me where you stand—on my side or theirs."
Leslie slowly retreated to the door; a man entered and stood beside
her.
"I've made my choice, father. This is Eliot Beekman, my husband,"
she announced bravely, a smile on her lips.
Wilkinson could not believe his ears. For a moment he did not speak,
but looked helplessly from one to the other; and Leslie, waiting for
the words that did not come, saw her step-mother grow pale, saw
Flomerfelt's fingers stealthily grope into the depths of his sleeves,
draw down his cuffs, and heave a sigh as he watched the latter
settle into place.
"Yes, father, I've made my choice," she repeated, placing her hand in
Beekman's.
It was indeed an odd-looking pair that Wilkinson looked upon: the
girl all smiles and gladness, happy in the love that she had at last
won; the man, a scarecrow, almost, his ragged coat revealing a
ragged flannel shirt and clothes worn thread-bare. He frowned. For
an instant he seemed vengeance personified.
"You——" faltered her father.
"Mr. Wilkinson," cried Beekman, advancing to that individual, "I've
come back to strip you naked as the day you were born, and I'm
going to do it, too."
"You'll have a good time doing it," Wilkinson answered with bravado,
although a growing fear was upon him.
"I expect to, I assure you," returned the other, "for I represent the
depositors in your rotten banks. Once they sought your life, Mr.
Wilkinson,"—for even he didn't know the truth,—"and now they're
after money—the money that belongs to them and not to you. I've
started in to get it, I've come to get possession of it, to find out
where it is."
"You'll have a good time doing it," was all that Peter V. could find,
apparently, to say.
"All I want to know is the name of the safe deposit vault where you
keep your securities. I'll be content with that, Mr. Wilkinson."
"What securities?" Wilkinson paled.
"All of them—everything," answered Beekman.
Wilkinson started, glared at Leslie, then he sank into a chair, for he
saw that she knew and had judged him, condemned him.
"You see, what you got for your pains," Wilkinson said presently to
Flomerfelt, sneeringly.
Flomerfelt nodded; but as the two men stared at each other, they
registered a silent pact; Flomerfelt agreed with Wilkinson, and
Wilkinson agreed with Flomerfelt, that there should be a truce.
This Beekman was a common enemy, and there must be no
disclosures now: to give the game away would be to rob them both
of everything.
"You may as well answer, Mr. Wilkinson," continued Beekman, "for
I'm determined on cleaning you up from top to toe. I'm your enemy
and I shall make it my business to represent every other enemy you
have. I've begun with Ilingsworth. I'm going to clear his name, put
him where he belongs; I'm going to clear up mysteries and let
daylight into the hidden places,—every mystery from the giving of
your million-dollar bail bond to the secret of your pardon. Nothing
shall escape me, I'll even ferret out the mystery of the death of
Pallister, for," and his finger pointed straight toward Wilkinson, "for
all I know you're at the bottom of that thing yourself."
"Fidelity Deposit vaults," came gasping from the throat of Mrs. Peter
V. from the other side of the room; and holding out her hands
pleadingly toward Beekman, she added:
"I had nothing, nothing whatever, to do with the murder of Roy. I
am innocent, I can prove my innocence. I'll tell all I know. The
Fidelity Deposit vaults—that's where...." She sank cowering into a
chair.
Flomerfelt realised now that he had made an egregious blunder in
his method of the past: this wholesome fear that he had instilled in
her had been his own undoing, a boomerang. But he was not yet
through; he saw another loophole open for him.
"Peter," he cried, "come to my terms and I'll help you to fight. If you
don't——"
Beekman stood by with folded arms. He had come there in a sort of
frenzy, to give vent to his pent-up sense of injury. He had regretted
his coming, it is true, the instant he stepped inside of the room. Yet
it was this same frenzy, this determined air of his, this sweeping into
the open and offering fight, they had really done the trick, struck
terror to the hearts of all three.
And now he actually smiled. Flomerfelt's game suddenly became
clear, and Beekman knew that they were playing right into his
hands. So he waited in silence.
"Wilkinson," cried Flomerfelt, with quick, incisive tones, like dagger
thrusts they were, "which shall it be?"
"Neither!" exclaimed Wilkinson, his clenched hand crashing down
upon the table, and then going over to his son-in-law, he laid his
chubby hand upon his shoulder and said: "Eliot, my boy, you've got
me beat—but I'm going to surrender, and—" he leered at Flomerfelt
and Mrs. Peter V.; then added: "and not be given up."
A moment later Flomerfelt started softly for the door, followed by
Mrs. Peter V. But Beekman barred the way.
"Hold on there!" he cried. "Peter V. Wilkinson possibly is immune
from further criminal prosecution, but I don't know about you two.
But whatever part you've had in the conspiracy you may be sure that
I'll find out. There's no escape for you."
Transcriber's Note
Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected.
Blank pages opposite illustrations have been removed.
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