“Nothingelse？“hequeried，alittleblankly。

“Nothingelse，“shesaidmonotonously。

“Butsincelastnight，sinceyouknewthatthingshadgonewrong，“

hepersisted，“surelyyoutracedthattelephonenumber——theoneyoucalledup？“

“Yes，“shesaid，andshruggedhershouldersinatiredway。

“NaturallyIdidthat——but，likeeverythingelse，itamountedtonothing。HetelephonedfromMakoff”spawnshoponthatalleyoffThompsonStreet，and”

“WHERE！“JimmieDale，suddenlystock-still，almostshoutedtheword。

“Hetelephonedfrom——where！Saythatagain！“

Shelookedathiminamazement，halfrisingfromherchair。

“Jimmie，whatisit？“shecried。“Youdon”tmeanthat”

Hewasbesidehernow，hishandspresseduponhershoulders，hisfaceflushed。

“Boxnumberfour-two-eight！“Helaughedouthystericallyinhisexcitement。“JohnJohansson——boxnumberfour-two-eight！AndlikeafoolIneverthoughtofit！Don”tyousee？Don”tyouknownowyourself？THEUNDERGROUNDPOSTOFFICE！“

Shestoodup，clingingtohim；awildrelief，thatwasbasedonherconfidenceinhim，inhereyesandface，evenwhilesheshookherhead。

“No，“shesaidfrantically。“No——Idonotknow。Tellme，Jimmie！

Tellmequickly！YoumeanatMakoff”s？“

“No！NotMakoff”s——atSpiderJack”s，onThompsonStreet！“——hewasclippingoffhiswords，stillholdinghertightlybytheshoulders，stillstaringintohereyes。“YouknowSpiderJack！Jack”slittlenoveltystore！Ah，youhavenotlearnedalloftheunderworldyet！

SpiderJackisthecraftiest”fence”intheBadLands——andMakoffishispartner。Spiderbuysthecrooks”stuff，andMakoffdisposesofitthroughthepawnshop——it”sonlyastepthroughtheconnectingbackyardfromonetotheother，and”

“Yes——but，“sheinterruptedfeverishly，“thepackage——yousaid”

“Wait！“JimmieDalecried。“I”mcomingtothat！IfTraversstoodinwithMakoff，hestoodinwithSpiderJack。ForyearsSpiderhasbeenasortofclearinghousefortheunderworld——foryearshehasconducted，andprofitably，too，hisundergroundpostoffice。Crooksfromalloverthecountry，letalonethoseinNewYork，communicatewitheachotherthroughSpiderJack。These，forafee，areregisteredatSpider”s，andgivenanumber——aboxnumberhecallsit，though，ofcourse，therearenoactualboxes。Letterscomebymailaddressedtohim——thesealedenvelopewithincontainingtheactuallyintendedrecipient”sname。TheseSpidereitherforwards，ordeliversinpersonwhentheyarecalledfor。Dozensofcrooks，too，unwilling，perhaps，todisposeofsmallill-gottenarticlesatruinous”fence”prices，andfindingitunhealthyforthemomenttokeepthemintheirpossession，usethismeansofdepositingthemtemporarilyforsafe-keeping。Youseenow，don”tyou？It”scertainthat”swhereTraversleftthepackage。HeusedthenameofJohnJohansson，nottohoodwinkSpiderJack，Ishouldsay，butasanaddedsafeguardagainsttheCrimeClub。TraversmusthaveknownbothMakoffandSpiderJackintheolddays，andprobablyhadreason，andgoodreason，totrustthemboth——possibly，acrookthenhimself，asheconfessed，hemayhaveactedinalegalcapacityforthemintheirfrequenttangleswiththepolice。”

“Then，“shesaid——andtherewasaglad，newnoteinhervoice，“then，Jimmie——Jimmie，wearesafe！Youcangetit，Jimmie！ItisonlyalittlethingfortheGraySealtodo——togetitnowthatweknowwhereitis。”

“Yes，“hesaidtersely。“Yes——ifitisstillthere。”

“Stillthere！“——sherepeatedthewordsquickly，nervously。“Stillthere！Whatdoyoumean？“

“Imeanifthey，too，havenotdiscoveredthathewasatMakoff”s——

iftheyhavenotgottherefirst！“hesaidgrimly。“Thereseemstobenolimittotheircleverness，ortheirpower。Theypenetratedhisdisguiseasachauffeur，andwhoknowswhatmoretheyhavelearnedsincelastnight？Wearefightingtheminthedark，and——

WHAT”STHAT！“hewhisperedtensely，suddenly——andleaningforwardlikeaflash，ashewhippedhisautomaticfromhispocket，heblewoutthelamp。

Theroomwasindarkness。Theystoodthererigid，silent，listening。Herhandfoundandcaughthisarm。

Andthenitcameagain——alowsound，thesoundofastealthyfootstepjustoutsidethewindowthatfacedonthestorageyard。

CHAPTERXI

THEMAGPIE

Aminutepassed——another。TheautomaticatJimmieDale”ship，themuzzlejustpeepingoverthetabletop，heldasteadybeadonthewindow。Camethefootstepagain——andthensuddenly，aseriesoflow，quicktappingsuponthewindowpane。TheTocsin”shandslippedawayfromhisarm。JimmieDale”ssetfacerelaxedashereadtheundergroundMorse，andhereplacedhisrevolverslowlyinhispocket。

“TheMagpie！“saidJimmieDale，inanundertone。“What”shewant？“

“Idon”tknow，“sheanswered，inawhisper。“Henevercameherebefore。There”sabackwayout，Jimmie，ifyou”

“No，“hesaidquickly。“We”veenemiesenough，withoutmakingoneoftheMagpie。Heknowssomeoneisherewithyou——ourshadowswereontheblind。Don”tqueeryourself。Lethimin。I”lllightthelamp。”

Hestruckamatch，assheranfromtheroom，and，liftingthehotlampchimneywiththeedgeofhisraggedcoat，lightedthelamp。Heturnedthewickdownalittle，shadinganddimmingtheroom——andthen，asheflirtedabeadofmoisturefromhisforehead，whimsicallystretchedouthishandtowatchitinthelamplight。

“That”sbad，Jimmie，“hemutteredgravelytohimself，ashenotedanalmostimperceptibletremour。“Gotastart，didn”tyou！Underabitofastrain，eh？Well“——grimly”nevermind！ItlooksasthoughtheluckhadturnedMakoffandSpiderJack！“

Hishandreacheduptohishat，jerkedthebrimatarakishangleoverhiseyes——andhesprawledhimselfoutonachair。HeheardtheTocsin”svoiceatthefrontdoor，andaman”svoice，lowandguarded，answerher。Thenthedoorclosed，andtheirstepsapproachedtheroom。Itwasrathercurious，that——avisitfromtheMagpie！WhatcouldtheMagpiewant？WhatcouldtherebeincommonbetweentheMagpieandSilverMag？TheMagpie，aliasSlimmyJoe，wascountedthecleverestsafeworkerintheUnitedStates，barringonlyandalwaysone——asmileflickeredacrossthelipsofLarrytheBat——onewhosepre-eminencetheMagpie，muchtohisownchagrin，admittedhimself——theGraySeal！

Helookedup，twistingthestubofacigarettebetweenhisgrimyfingersandfumblingforamatch，astheTocsinand，behindher，theMagpie，short，slim，andwiry，shrewd-faced，withsharp，quick-

glancinglittleblackeyes，enteredtheroom。

“”Ello，Larry！“grinnedtheMagpie。“Gotyerbreathbackyet？I

feltitthroughdewindowpanewhenyouseletgoatdelamp！“

“”Ello，Slimmy！“returnedJimmieDaleungraciously，speakingthroughthecornerofhismouth。“Fergetit！“

“Sure！“saidtheMagpieunconcernedly。Hestaredabouthim，andfinally，drawingachairuptothetable，satdown，motionedtheTocsintodothesame，andleanedforwardamiably。“Ididn”tmeantothrownoscareintoyouse，“hesaid，inaconciliatingtone。

“ButIhadalittlebusinesswidMag，an”Iwaskindofinterestedinwhethershewasentertainin”companyornot——see？Ididn”tknowyousean”Magwasworkin”together。”

“Mabbe，“observedJimmieDale，asungraciouslyasbefore，“mabbedere”ssomemoret”ingsyousedon”tknow！“

“Aw，coughupdegrouch！“advisedtheMagpie，withahintofimpatiencecreepingintohisvoice。“Yousedon”tneedtobesoreallnight！ItoldyouseIwasn”ttryin”tohandyouseone，didn”tI？“

“NevermindLarry，Slimmy，“putintheTocsinpetulantly。“He”sdownonhisluck，dat”sall。Heain”thaddepriceofapinchofcokefertwodays。”

“Oho！“exclaimedtheMagpie，grinningagain。“Sodat”swot”sgivin”

yousedepip，eh，Larry？Well，den，say，yousecantakeitfrommedatmabbeyouse”llbegladIblewaround。Iwaslookin”feraguyaboutyersizeferalittlejobto-night，an”Iwast”inkin”oflettin”YoungDutchyinonit，butseem”youseareherean”inwidMag，an”datIgottogetMagin，too，youseareonifyousesaydeword。”

“Wot”sdelay？“inquiredLarrytheBat，unbendingalittle。

TheMagpiecockedhiseye，andstuckhistongueinhischeek。

“GOOD-night！“hesaidtersely。“Nothin”likedat！Areyouseon，orain”tyouse？“

“Well，den，wot”sinitferme？“persistedLarrrytheBat。

“More”ndepriceofacokesneeze！“returnedtheMagpiepertinently。

“Dere”sacenturynoteferyouse，an”mabbetwoort”reeofdemferMag。”

LarrytheBat”seyesgleamedavariciously。

“Aw，quityerkiddin”！“hesaidgruffly。“Acenturynote——ferme！“

“Dat”swotIsaid！Youseheardme！“rejoinedtheMagpieshortly。

“Onlyifitlistensgoodtoyousenow，Idon”twantnosquealin”

afterthedivvy。I”mtakin”dechances，yousehasdesoftendofit。Onecenturynoteferyouse——an”derestisnoneofyerbusiness！Dat”sputtin”itstraight，ain”tit？Well，wotdoyousesay，an”sayitquick——”causeifyouseain”tcomin”in，yousecanbeatitoutofhereso”sIcantalktoMag。”

“Dereain”tnothin”Iwouldn”ttakeachanceonferahundredplunks！“declaredLarrytheBat，withsuddenfervency——andstared，anxiouslyexpectant，attheMagpie。“Sure，I”monSlimmy！Sure，I

am！Cutitloose！Spilldestory！“

“Well，den，“saidtheMagpie，“Iwants”

“Youseain”tthroughyet！“interruptedtheTocsintartly。“Iain”theardyouseaskin”menothin”！Iain”tonmeupperslikeLarry，an”

mabbedepricedon”tcutsomuchice——see？“

“Aw，“saidtheMagpie，withasmirk，“Idon”thavetoaskyouseondislay。Disiswhereyouse”dcomeinonitfermarbles。Say，disiswherewegetsdehookintoaguybydenameofHenryLaSalle！

Getme？“

HENRYLASALLE！Underthetable，JimmieDale”shandclenchedsuddenly；butnotamuscleofhisfacemoved，save，aswiththetipofhistongue，heshiftedthebuttofthecigarettethatwashangingroyallyfromhislowerliptotheothercornerofhismouth。

“Sure！She”s”got”youse，Slimmy！“heflungout，withagrin，astheTocsinwrinkledupherfacemenacinglyandbegantomumbletoherself。“He”sdeguydathandedheronewhenshewasyoung，an”

she”sbeenlayin”ferhimeversince！Sure！Iknow！Ain”tI

workedhimferhertillIwearsmeshoesouttryin”togetsomet”ingonhim！Sure，she”sinonit！Goon，Slimmy，wot”sdelay？WotdoIdoferdatcentury？“

TheMagpiehitchedhischairclosertothetableand，ashissharp，little，ferreteyesglancedaroundtheroom，motionedthetwotobringstheirheadsnearer。

“OneofmeinfluentialbrokerfriendsdownonWallStreetputmewise，“hesaid，withawink。“Dat”sgoodenoughferyousetwo，asfarasdatgoes。Buttakeitfromme，Igotitdeadstraight。”Heloweredhisvoice“Say，he”soneofderichestmugsinNewYork，ain”the？Well，he”sbeensellin”stocksan”bondsallday，t”ousandsan”t”ousandsofdollars”worth——fercash。”

“Alldemt”ingsisalwayssoldfercash，“remarkedLarrytheBatfatuously。

“Aw，fergetit！“saidtheMagpieearnestly。“FerCASH，Isaid——decoin，delonggreen——understand？Hewasn”tshovin”nochecksferwhathesoldintodebankexcepttogetdemcashed。Dat”swothe”sbeendoin”allday——gettin”decheckscashed，an”gettin”demoneyinbigbills——see！Iknowofonebunchofeightyt”ousand——an”

dat”sonlyone！“

“Wotfer？“inquiredLarrytheBat。Itwasthequestionthatwaspoundingathisbrain，ashestaredinnocentlyattheMagpie。Whatdiditmean？WhywasHenryLaSalleturning，and，iftheMagpiewasright，feverishlyturningeverysecurityhecouldlayhishandsonintocash？Andthen，inaflash，theanswercame。THEYHADNOT

FOUNDTHEPACKAGE！Equallytothem，astotheTocsin，sittingtherebeforehim，itmeantlifeanddeath。IfthepackagewerefoundbytheTocsininsteadofthemselves，thegamewasup！Theywerepreparingforeventualities。Iftheywereforcedtorunatamoment”snotice，theyatleastwerenotgoingtorunempty-handed！

Farfromempty-handed，itseemed！Itwouldnotbedifficultfortheestate”sexecutortorealiseavastsuminshortorderoninstantlymarketable，gilt-edgedsecurities——say，halfamilliondollars。Notverybulky，either——inlargebills！Fivethousandhundred-dollarbillswouldmakehalfamillion。Itwasastonishinghowsmallahandbag，say，mightholdafortune！“Wotfer，Slimmy？“heinquiredagain，wigglinghiscigarettebuttonhistonguetip。“Wot”dhedodatfer？“

“HowdehelldoyousesupposeIknows！“demandedtheMagpie，politelyscornful。“Dat”shisbusiness——datain”twot”sworryin”

me！“

“No——sure，itain”t！“admittedLarrytheBatingratiatingly。“Butgoon，keepmovin”，Slimmy！Wot”shedonewiddestuff？“

“Donewidit！“echoedtheMagpie，withashortlaugh。“Wotdoyouset”ink！He”sbeenluggin”ithometohisswelljointupdereondeavenoo，an”crammin”hissafefullofit。”

LarrytheBatsuckedinhisbreath。

“Gee，dat”ssoft！“hemurmured，andthensuddenly，asthoughwithpainfulinspiration：“Say，Slimmy——say，areyousesureyouseain”tbeenhandedasteer？“

TheMagpiegrinnedwickedly。

“Iain”tfallin”fersteers！“hesaidshortly。“Disisondelevel。”

JimmieDalelurchedupfromhischair，and，leaningoverthelampchimney，drewwheezilyonhiscigarettetogetalight。HiseyessoughttheTocsin”sface。ToallintentsandpurposesshewasentirelyabsorbedintheMagpie。Hesatdownagaintogape，withwell-stimulated，doglikeadmiration，atSlimmyJoe。WASTHIS，TOO，APLANT？WhyhadtheMagpiecometoTHEMwiththisstoryofHenryLaSalle？Andthen，thenextinstant，astheMagpiespoke，hissuspicionswereallayed。

“Let”sgetdowntocases！“theMagpieinvitedcrisply。“Ididn”tblowinherejustbyluck。DisHenryLaSalleisdeguyyouseworkedferonce，ain”the，Mag？Dat”sdespiel，ain”tit？——hesentyouseupferpinchin”detacksoutofhiscarpets！“

“Ineverpinchednothin”！“snarledSilverMagtruculently。“He”sadirtyliar！Ineverdid！“

“Cutitout！Cutitout！Candat！“complainedtheMagpiepatiently。“Depointis，youseworkedinhishouse，didn”tyouse？“

“SureIdid！“snappedtheTocsin，sullenlyaggressive；“but”

“Well，den，dat”swotIwant，dat”swotIcomefer，Mag——aplanofdehouse。See？“

JimmieDalecouldfeeltheTocsin”seyesuponhim，questioning，searching，seekingacue。Aplanofthehouse——yesorno？Andadecisionontheinstant！

“Sure！“saidLarrytheBatbrightly。“Dat”swotIwast”inkin”

yousewereafteralldetime。Say，youseareallright，Slimmy！

Yousearedekindtoworkwid！Goon，Mag，drawdedopeferSlimmy。

Dat”sbetterdantryin”toputoneoverondeswellguy。Dis”llmakehimsquealferfair！“

TheMagpieproducedapencilandapieceofpaperfromhispocket，andlaidthemonthetableinfrontoftheTocsin。

“Dereyouseare，“heannounced。“Helpyerself，an”gotoit，Mag！“

TheTocsin，evidentlynotquitecertainofherpart，wetthepencildoubtfullyontheendofhertongue。

“Iain”tneverdrawedplans，“shesaidanxiously。“Mabbe“——sheglancedatJimmieDale”mabbeIdunnohowtodoitRIGHT。”

“Aw，goahead！“noddedLarrytheBat。“Yousecandoitright，Mag。

Yousedon”thavetomakenooilpaintin”！AlldeMagpiewantsisdedoorsan”windows，eh，Slimmy？“

“Sure，“agreedtheMagpieencouragingly。“Dat”sall，Mag。Justmarkderoomsoutondefirstfloor，an”debasement。Yousecanexplainwotyouse”redoin”asyousegoesalong。I”llgetyouse。”

TheTocsincackledmaliciouslyinassent；andthen，whiletheMagpiegotupfromhischairandstoodpeeringoverhershoulder，shebegantodrawlabouriously，herbrowsknitted，thepencilhookedawkwardlybetweencramped-upforefingerandthumb。

LarrytheBat，slouchedforwardoverthetable，hischininhishands，appearedtowatchtheproceedingswithmildinterest——buthiseyes，likeahawk”s，werefollowingeverylineonthepaper，transferringthemtohisbrain，photographingeverydetailoftheplaninhismind。Andashewatched，thereseemedsomethingthatwasneartotheacmeofallthatwasironicalintheMagpiestandingthere，hissharp，little，blackeyesdrinkingingreedilytheTocsin”swork，intheTocsinherselfaidingandabettingintheprojectedtheft——OFHEROWNMONEY！HowfarwouldhelettheMagpiego？Hedidnotknow。Perhaps——whocouldtell！——alltheway。

Betweennowandthentherelaythatpackage！IfitwereatMakoff”s，atSpiderJack”s，ifhecouldfindit，getit——theMagpieasatemporarycustodianoftheestate”smoneywouldatleastprecludeitslossbyflightiftheCrimeClubtookalarmtooquickly。LarrytheBat”seyes，underhalf-closedlids，restedmusinglyontheMagpie”sface。TheMagpiewouldnotgetveryfarawaywithit！Ontheotherhand，ifhefailedatSpiderJack”s，if，afterall，hewaswrong，andthepackagehadneverbeenthere，oriftheyhadforestalledhim，turnedthetrickuponhim，alreadysecuredit，then——LarrytheBat”slips，workingonhiscigarette，formedinatwistedsmile——then，wellthen，thatwasquiteanothermatter！

PerhapsheandtheMagpiemightnotagreesofar！Ahalfmilliondollarswasperhapsnotmuchoutofelevenmillions，butitwasasalvagenottobedespised！Whydidhesayhalfamillion！Well，whynot？IftheMagpieknewofasingletransactionofeightythousand，andtherehadbeenmanytransactionsduringtheday，ahalfmillionwaslittlelikelytoproveanexaggeration——andthelesslikelyinviewofthefactthat，ifthoseintheCrimeClubwerepreparingforanemergency，theywouldnotstintthemselvesinthedisposalofsecurities。

TheMagpiewaskeepinguparunningfireofquestions，astheTocsintoiledonwithherpencil。Wheredidthehallleadto？Howmanywindowsinthelibrary？Didsherememberthekindoffastenings？

Didtheservantssleepinthebasement，orabove？Andfinally，twiceover，asshefinishedtheclumsydrawingandpushedittowardhim，hedemandedminutedetailsofthepositionofthesafe。

“Aw，dat”sallright，Slimmy！“LarrytheBatcutinairily。“Ifyousefergetanyt”ingwhenyousegetindere，yousecanaskme。I

gotitcinched！“

TheMagpiefoldedthepaperandstoweditcarefullyawayinhispocket。

“Askyouse，eh！“hegruntedsarcastically。“An”wheredoyouset”inkyouse”llbeaboutdattime？“

“Inderewidyouse，ofcourse，“repliedLarrytheBatpromptly。

“Dat”swotyousesaid。”

“Yes，yousewill——NOT！“announcedtheMagpie，withcoldfinality。

“Doyouset”inkIwanttoqueermyself！Ahotoneyouse”dbeonaninsidejob！Youse”llbeOUTSIDE，widyerpeepersskinnedfordebulls——yousean”Maghere，too。See！Getdatstraight。WhileI”mondejobyousetwoplaysdegame。Nowyouselistentome，bothofyouse。Don”tstartnothin”unlessyousehasto。Ifit”sacinchI

gottomakeaget-away，yousetwostartadrunkfight。Getme？

Youseknowdelay。T”rowdetalkloud——an”I”llfade。Dat”sall！

We”llcrackdecribearly——it”llbequietenoughupderebyoneo”clock“

Oneo”clock！LarrytheBatshookhishead。Whattimewasitnow？

ItwasaboutninewhenhehadfirstmettheTocsin，thentheSanctuary，thenthelongwalkashehadfollowedher——sayaquarteroftenforthat。Andhehadcertainlybeenherewithhernotlessthananhourandahalf。Itmustbeaftereleven，then。Oneo”clock！AndbeforethatmustcomeMakoffandSpiderJack！Thenightthathalfanhouragohadseemedsosterile，wascrowdingaprogramofeventsuponhimnow——toofast！

“Nothin”doin”！“hesaidthoughtfully。“Youseareinwrongdere，Slimmy。Oneo”clockdon”tgo！Say，takeitfromme，I”vewatcheddatguytoomanynightsferMag。”Tain”toftenheleavesdeclubbeforeoneo”clock——an”heain”tneverinbedbeforetwo。”

“Allright，“agreedtheMagpie，afteramoment”sreflection。“Youseoughttoknow。Makeitthreeo”clock。”Hepulledacigarfromhispocket，lightedit，and，leaningbackinhischair，stuckhisfeetuponthetable。“Ifyousedon”tmind，Mag，I”llstickaroundawhile，“hedecidedcalmly。“MabbedelessI”mseento-nightdebetter——an”Iguessderewon”tbenobodylookin”fermehere。”

LarrytheBatcoughedsuddenly，androseupalittleheavilyfromhischair。Hehadnotcountedonthat！IftheMagpiewassettlingdownforaprolongedstay，itdevolveduponhim，JimmieDale，togetaway，andatonce——andwithoutexcitingtheMagpie”ssuspicions。Hecoughedagain，lookednervouslyfromtheTocsintotheMagpie——

stammered——swallowedhard——andcoughedoncemore。

“Well，wot”sbitin”youse？“inquiredtheMagpieironically。

“Nothin”，“saidLarrytheBat——andhesitated。“Nothin”，only”Hehesitatedagain；andthen，thewordsinarush：

“Say，Slimmy，couldn”tyousecomeacrosswidapieceofdatcenturynow？“

“Wotfer？“demandedtheMagpie，alittleaggressively。

LarrytheBatclearedhisthroatwithadesperateeffort。

“Youseknows，“headmittedsheepishly。“Justgimmedepriceofone，Slimmy——justone。”

“Coke！“explodedtheMagpie。“An”getsoakedtodeeyes——notbyadamnsight！“

“No！HonesttoGawd，no，Slimmy——justone！“pleadedLarrytheBat。

“Nix！“saidtheMagpieshortly。

LarrytheBatthrustoutahandbeforetheMagpie”seyesthatshooktremulously。

“Igottohaveit！“hedeclared，withsuddenfierceness。“IGOTto——

see！Lookatme！Iain”tgoin”tobenogoodto-nightifIdon”t。

Itellyouse，Igotto！Iain”tgoin”tot”rowyousedown，Slimmy——

honest，Iain”t！Justone——an”it”llsetmeup。IfIdon”tgetnoneI”llbeonderocksbeforemornin”！Dat”sstraight，Slimmy——

askMag，sheknows。”

“Aw，lethimgogetit！“brokeintheTocsinwearily。“Dat”sdebestt”ingyousecando，Slimmy——dey”reallalikewhendeygetsinhisclass。”

“Yousecocainesniffersgivesmedepip！“snortedtheMagpie，indisgust。Hedugdownintohispocket，producedabill，andflungitacrossthetabletoLarrytheBat。“Well，dereyouseare；butyousecantakeitfromme，Larry，datifyousegetswhiffed“——hesworethreateningly”I”llcrackeveryboneinyerface！Getme？“

“Slimmy，“saidLarrytheBatfervently，grabbingatthebillwithahungryhand，“yousecancountonme。I”llbeupdereondejobbeforeyouseare。Threeo”clock，eh？Well，solong，Slimmy“——heslouchedeagerlytothedoor。“Solong，Mag“——hepausedonthethresholdforasingle，quick-flung，significantglance。“Seeyouseondeavenoo，Mag——I”llbeupderebeforeyouseare。Solong！“

“Oh，solong！“saidtheTocsincontemptuously。

And，aninstantlater，JimmieDaleclosedtheouterdoorbehindhim。

CHAPTERXII

JOHNJOHANSSON——FOUR-TWO-EIGHT

Nearlymidnightalready！Itwasevenlaterthanhehadthought。

LarrytheBatpressedhisfaceagainstashop”swindowpaneontheBoweryforaglanceataclockthathadcaughthiseyeonthewallwithin。Nearlymidnight！

Heslouchedonagainhurriedly，stilldebatinginhismind，ashehadbeendebatingitallthewayfromtheTocsin”s，thequestionofreturningagaintotheSanctuary。Sofar，thewaybothtoSpiderJack”sandtheSanctuaryhadbeeninthesamedirection——buttheSanctuarywasonthenextstreet。

JimmieDalereachedthecorner——andhesitated。Itwasstrangehowstrongwastheintuitionuponhimto-nightthatbadehimgoonandmakeallspeedtoSpiderJack”s——whileequallystrongwasthecold，stubbornlogicthatbadehimgofirsttotheSanctuary。Therewerethingsthatheneededtherethatwouldprobablybeabsolutelyessentialtohimbeforethenightwasout，thingswithoutwhichhemightbesobadlyhandicappedastoinvitefailurefromthestart；

andyet——itwasalreadymidnight！

OstensiblybothMakoffandSpiderJackclosedtheirplacesateleven。Butthatmightmeananything——dependingupontheirownrespectiveinclinations，oronwhatoftheirownpeculiarbrandofdeviltrymightbeafoot。Iftheywerestillabout，stillinevidence，hewasstilltooearly，midnightthoughitwas；though，ontheotherhand，ifthecoastwasclear，hecouldillaffordtoloseamomentofthetimebetweennowandthehourthattheMagpiehadplannedfortherobberyofHenryLaSalle，foritwouldnotbeaneasymatter，evenonceinsideSpiderJack”s，tofindthatpackage——

sinceitwasSpider”sopenboastthatthingscommittedtohiscarewerewherethepolice，oranyoneelse，mightaswellwhistleandsucktheirthumbsastrytofindthem！

Andthen，withsuddendecision，takinghishesitation，asitwere，bythethroat，JimmieDalehurriedonagain——totheSanctuary。Atmost，itcoulddelayhimbutanotherfifteenminutes，andbyhalf-

pasttwelve，oraquartertooneatthelatest，hewouldbeatSpiderJack”s。

Disdainingthesecrecyofthesidedooronthealley，forwhohadabetterrightorwasbetterknowntherethanLarrytheBat，atenantofyears，heenteredthetenementbythefrontdoor，scuffledupthestairstothefirstlanding，andlethimselfintohisdisreputableroom。Helockedthedoorbehindhim，lightedthechokedandwheezygasjet，inasingle，sharp-flungglanceassuredhimselfthattheblindsweretightlyshut，and，kneelinginthefarcorner，threwbacktheoilclothandlifteduptheloosesectionoftheflooringbeneath。Hereachedinside，fumblingundertheneatlyfoldedclothesofJimmieDale，andinamomentlaidhisleathergirdlewithitskitofburglar”stoolsonthefloorbesidehim；andbesidethatagainanelectricflashlight，ablacksilkmask，and——whathehadneverexpectedtouseagainwhen，earlythenightbefore，hehad，ashehadbelieved，putitawayforever——thethin，metalinsigniacaseoftheGraySeal。Anothermoment，and，withtheflooringreplaced，theoilclothrolledbackintoposition，hehadstrippedoffhiscoatandwaspullinghisspotted，greasyshirtoffoverhishead；then，stoopingquickly，hepickedupthegirdle，putiton，putonhisshirtagainoverit，putonhiscoat，putthemetalcase，theflashlight，andthemaskinhispockets——andoncemoretheSanctuarywasindarkness。

ItwasperhapsfifteenminuteslaterthatJimmieDaleturnedintotheuppersectionofThompsonStreet。Hereheslowedhispace，thathadbeenalmostarunsincehehadlefttheSanctuary，andbegantoshuffleleisurelyalong；forthestreet，thatafewhoursbeforewouldhavebeenchokedwithitspushcartsandvenders，itshalfnakedchildrenplayingwheretheycouldfindroominthegutters，itssidewalksthrongedwithshawledwomenandpicturesquelydressed，earringed，dark-visagedmen，ascene，asitwere，transportedfromsomeforeignland，wasstillfarfromdeserted；thequiet，ifquietitcouldbecalled，wasbutcomparative，thereweremanyyetabout，andhehadnodesiretoattractattentionbyanyevidenceofunduehaste。And，besides，SpiderJack”swasjustahead，makingthecornerofthealleywayafewhundredfeetfartheron，andhehadverygoodreasonsfordesiringtoapproachSpider”slittlenoveltystoreatapacethatwouldaffordhimeveryopportunityforobservation。

Onheshuffledalongthestreet，until，reachingSpiderJack”s，alittletwo-storied，tumble-downbrickstructure，amutteredexclamationofsatisfactionescapedhim。Theshopwasclosedanddark；and，thoughSpiderJacklivedabovethestore，therewerenolightsevenintheupperwindows。SpiderJackpresumablywaseitherout，orinbed！Sofar，then，hecouldhaveaskedfornothingmore。

JimmieDaleedgedinclosetothebuildingasheslouchedby，soclosethathishatbrimseemedtotouchthewindowpane。Itwaspossiblethatfromaroomattherearofthestoretheremightbealightwithatelltalerayperhapsfilteringthrough，say，adoorcrack。Buttherewasnothing——onlyblacknesswithin。

Hepausedatthecornerofthebuildingbythealleyway。Downhere，adjoiningthehighboardfenceofSpiderJack”sbackyard，Makoffmadepretenseatpawnbrokeringinasmallanddingywoodenbuilding，thatwaslittlemorepretentiousthanashed——andinMakoff”splace，sofarashecouldsee，therewasnolight，either。

JimmieDale”sfingerswereindustriouslyrollingacigarette，as，underthebrimofhisslouchhat，hiseyeswerenotingeverydetailaroundhim。AyardinagainstthewallofSpiderJack”s，thewallcuttingofftheraysofthestreetlampatasharpangle，itwasshadowyandblack——andbeyondthat，fartherin，thealleywaywaslikeapit。Itwouldtakeless，farless，thanthefractionofasecondtogainthatyard，butsomeonewasapproachingbehindhim，andalittlegroupofpeopleloitered，withannoyingpersistency，directlyacrossthewayontheothersideofthestreet。JimmieDalestuckthecigarettebetweenhislips，fumbledinhispockets，andfinallyproducedaboxofmatches。Thegroupoppositewasmovingonnow；thefootstepshehadheardbehindhim，thoseofaman，drewnearer，themanpassedby——andtheboxofmatchesinJimmieDale”shanddroppedtotheground。Hereachedtopickthemup，andinhisstoopingposture，withoutseemingtoturnhishead，flungaquickglancebehindhimupthestreet。Noone，forthatfractionofasecondthatheneeded，wasnearenoughtosee——andinthatfractionofasecondJimmieDaledisappeared。

Adozenyardsdownthelane，hesprangforthetopofthehighfence，grippedit，and，litheandactiveasacat，swunghimselfupandover，anddroppednoiselesslytothegroundontheotherside。

Herehestoodmotionlessforamoment，closeagainstthefence，togethisbearings。TherearofSpiderJack”sbuildingloomedupbeforehim——thebackwindowsasunlightedasthoseinfront。Lucksofar，atleast，waswithhim！Heturnedandlookedabouthim，and，hiseyesgrowingaccustomedtothedarkness，hecouldjustmakeoutMakoff”splace，borderingtheendoftheyard——nor，fromthisnewvantagepoint，couldhediscover，anymorethanbefore，asinglesignoflifeaboutthepawnbroker”sestablishment。

JimmieDalestoleforwardacrosstheyard，mountedthethreestepsofthelowstoopatSpiderJack”sbackdoor，andtriedthedoorcautiously。Itwaslocked。FromhispocketcamethesmallsteelinstrumentthathadstoodLarrytheBatingoodsteadahundredtimesbeforeinsimilarcircumstances。Heinserteditinthekeyhole，workeddeftlywithitforaninstant——andtriedthedooragain。Itwasstilllocked。AndthenJimmieDalesmiledalmostapologetically。SpiderJackdidnotuseordinarylocksonhisbackdoor！

Thediscountenancedinstrumentwentbackintohispocket，andnowJimmieDale”shandslippedinsidehisshirt，andfromoneofthelittle，uprightpocketsoftheleatherbelt，andfromstillanother，andfromafterthatathird，cametheviciouslittleblued-steeltools。Thesensitivefingerstravelledslowlyupanddownthesideofthedoor——andthenhewasatworkinearnest。Aminutepassed——

another——therewasadull，low，gratingsound，asnickasofmetalyieldingsuddenly——andJimmieDalewascoollystowingawayhistoolsagaininsidehisshirt。

Hepushedthedooropenaninch，listened，thenswungitwide，steppedinside，andcloseditbehindhim。Around，whitebeamoflightflashedinaquickcircle——andwentout。Itwasasortofstoreroom，innocentenoughandorderlyenoughinappearance，bare-

floored，withboxesandpackingcasespiledneatlyagainstthewalls。Inonecornerastaircaseledtothestoryabove——andfromabove，quiteaudiblynow，hecaughtthesoundofsnoring。SpiderJackwasinbed，then！

Directlyfacinghimwastheopendoorofanotherroom，andJimmieDale，movingsoftlyforward，enteredit。HehadneverbeeninSpiderJack”sbefore，andhisfirstconcernwastoformanintimateacquaintanceshipwithhissurroundings。Againtheflashlightcircled，andagainwentout。

“Nowindows！“mutteredJimmieDaleunderhisbreath。“Nothingveryfancyaboutthearchitecture！Threeroomsinarow！Storeinfrontofthisroomthroughthatdoorofcourse。Wonderifthedoor”slocked，thoughit”saforegoneconclusionthepackagewouldn”tbeinthere。”

Notasound，histreadsilent，hecrossedtothecloseddoorthathehadnoticed。Itwasunlocked，andheopenedittentativelyalittleway。Afaintglowoflightdiffuseditselfthroughtheopening。

JimmieDalenoddedhisheadandclosedthedooragain。Thestreetlamp，shiningthroughtheshopwindows，accountedforthelight。

Andnowtheflashlightplayedwithsteadyinquisitivenessabouthim。

Theroominwhichhestoodseemedtocombineasortofoffice，withaloungingroom，inwhichSpiderJack，nodoubt，entertainedhisparticularcronies。Therewastableinthecentre，cardsstilluponit，chairsaboutit。Againstthewallfarthestawayfromtheshopstoodahuge，old-fashionedcabinet；andalittlefartheralong，anglewise，partitioningoffthecorner，asitwere，hung，forsomepurposeorother，acretonnecurtain。Also，againstthewallnexttothelane，bringingacommiseratingsmiletoJimmieDale”slipsashiseyesfelluponit，wasaclumsy，lumbering，antiquesafe。

JimmieDale”seyesreturnedtothecurtain。Whatwasitdoingthere？Whatwasitfor？Instinctivelyhesteppedovertoexamineit。Asingleglance，however，ashelifteditaside，sufficed。Itwasnothingbutamake-shiftclothescloset。Heturnedfromit，switchedofftheflashlight，andstoodstaringmeditativelyintothedarkness。Inastrangehouse，withtheknowledgetobeginwiththatwhathesoughtwascarefullyhidden，itwasnosinecuretofindthatpackage。Hehadneverforamomentimaginedthatitwouldbe。Butofonething，however，therewasnouncertaintyinhismind——hewouldgetthepackage！——bysearchifpossible，byothermeansifsearchfailed。Itwasnowclosetooneo”clock。Ifbytwoo”clockhiseffortshadbeenfruitless，SpiderJackwouldhandoverthepackage——attherevolverpoint！Itwasquitesimple！Meanwhile——

JimmieDaleshruggedhisshoulders，and，goingovertothesafe，kneltdowninfrontofit——meanwhile，aswellbeginhereasanywhereelse。

Thetrainedfingersclosedonthehandle——andontheinstant，asthoughinstartledamazement，shiftedtothedial。Theycamebacktothehandle——awrench——thenalow，amusedchuckle——andthedoorswungopen。Thegreat，unwieldythingwasonlyamonumentalbluff！

Itnotonlyhadnotbeenlocked，butitCOULDNOTbelocked——themechanismwasoutoforder，theboltscouldnotbemovedbysomuchasahair”sbreadth！

Stillchuckling，JimmieDaleshottheflashlight”srayintotheinteriorofthesafe——andthechucklediedonhislips，andintohisfacecamealookofstrainedbewilderment。Inside，everythingwasinchaos，books，papers，amiscellanyofarticles，asthoughtheyhadfirstbeenruthlesslypulledoutonthefloor，thengatheredupinanarmfulandcrammedbackinsideagain。Foraninstanthedidnotmove，andthenaqueer，hard，mirthlesssmiledrewdownthecornersofhismouth。Withasortofbitter，expectantnodofhishead，heturnedthelightuponthedoorofthesafe。Yes，therewerethescratchesthatthetoolshadleft；and，asthoughinsardonicjest，theholes，wherethesteelbithadbored，werepluggedwithputtyandrubbedoverwithsomeblacksubstancethatwasstillwetandcameoff，smearinghisfinger，ashetouchedit。

Itcouldnothavebeendonelongago，then！Howlong？Ahalfhour——

anhour？Notmorethanthat！

Mechanicallyheclosedthedoorofthesafe，rosetohisfeetand，almostheedlessofnoisenow，theflashlightraydancingbeforehim，hejumpedacrosstotheold-fashionedcabinetandpulledthedooropen。Here，aswithinthesafe，allinside，plainevidenceofthorough，ifhasty，search，wasscatteredandtossedaboutinhopelessconfusion。

Heshutthecabinetdoor；theflashlightwentout；andhestoodlikeamanstunned，thesenseofsomeabysmaldisasteruponhim。Hewastoolate！Thegamewasup！Ifithadeverbeenhere，thepackagewasgonenow——GONE！TheCrimeClubhadbeenherebeforehim！

“Thegamewasup！Thegamewasup！“——hismindseemedtokeeponrepeatingthat。TheCrimeClubhadbeatenhimbyanhour，atmost，andhadbeenhere，andhadsearched。Itwasstrange，though，thattheyshouldhavebeenatsuchcuriouspainstocovertheirtracksbyleavingtheroominorder，bysuchpaltryeffortstomakethesafeappearuntouchedwhenthefirstglancethatwasatallcriticalwoulddiscloseimmediatelywhathadbeendone！Whyshouldtheyneedtocovertheirtracksatall；or，ifitwasnecessary，why，aboveall，insuchapitifullyinadequateway！Hismindbarkedbacktothesameghastlyrefrain”thegamewasup！“

NO！Notyet！Therewasstillachance！TherewasstillSpiderJack！Suppose，inspiteoftheirsearch，theyhadfailedtofindthepackage！JimmieDale”slipssetinathinline，ashestartedabruptlytowardthedoor。Therewasstillthatchance，andonethingwasgrimlycertain——SpiderJackwould，atleast，showhimwherethepackageHADBEEN！

Andthen，halfwaytothedoor，hehaltedsuddenly，andstoodstill——

listening。Anelectricbellwasringingloudly，imperiously，somewhereupstairs。Followedalmostimmediatelythesoundofsomeone，SpiderJackpresumably，movinghurriedlyaboutoverhead；andthen，amomentlater，stepscomingdownthestaircaseintheadjoiningroom。

JimmieDaledrewback，flatteninghimselfagainstthewall。SpiderJackenteredtheroom，stumbledacrossit，inthedarkness，fumbledforthedoorthatledintohislittleshop，openedit，passedthrough，fumbledaroundinthereagain，formatchesevidently，thenlightedagasjetinthestore，and，goingtothestreetdoor，openedit。

JimmieDalehadedgedalongthewallalittletoapositionwherehehadanunobstructedviewthroughtheopendoorwayconnectingtheshopandtheroominwhichhestood。SpiderJack，introusersandshirt，hastilydonned，nodoubt，ashehadgotoutofbed，wasstandinginthestreetdoorway，andbeyondhimloomedtheformsofseveralmen。SpiderJacksteppedasidetoallowhisvisitorstoenter——andsuddenly，acrybarelysuppresseduponhislips，JimmieDaleinvoluntarilystrainedforward。Threemenhadentered，buthiseyeswerefixed，fascinated，upononlyone——thefirstofthethree。

Wasitanhallucination？Washemad——dreaming？ItwasHiltonTravers，THECHAUFFEUR——themanwhomhecouldhaveswornhehadlastseendead，lashedinthatchair，inthatghastlydeathchamberoftheCrimeClub！

“Ratherroughonyou，Spider，topullyououtofbedatthishour，“

thechauffeurwassayingapologetically。

“Oh，that”sallright，seein”it”syou，Travers，“SpiderJackanswered，grufflyamiable。“OnlyIwaskindoflookin”foryoulastnight。”

“Iknow，“thechauffeurreplied；“butIcouldn”tconnectwithmyfriendshere。Shakehandswiththem，Spider——BobMarvin——HarryStead。”

“Gladtoknowyou，gents，“saidSpiderJack，withahandgripapiece。

Thechauffeurloweredhisvoicealittle。

“Isupposewe”realonehere，eh，Spider？Yes？Well，then，youknowwhatI”vecomefor——thatpackage——MarvinandStead，here，aretheonesthatareinonitwithme。Getitforme，willyou，Spider？“

“Sure——Mr。Johansson！“Spidergrinned。“Sure！Comeonintothebackroomandmakeyourselvescomfortable。I”llbemabbefiveminutes，orso。”

JimmieDale”sbrainwaswhirling。Whatdiditmean？Hecouldnotseemtounderstand。Hismindseemedtorefuseitsfunctions。

Travers，thechauffeur——ALIVE！Hedrewinhisbreathsharply。Thatcurtaininthecorner！Hemustseethisoutnow！Theywerecoming！

Quick，noiseless，hestolealongthesideofthewall，reachedthecorner，andslippedinbehindthecurtain，asSpiderJack，strikingamatch，enteredtheroom。

SpiderJacklightedthegas，and，astheothersfollowedbehindhim，wavedthemtowardthechairsaroundthetable。

“I”lljustaskyougentsnottoleavetheroom，“hesaidmeaningly，overhisshoulder，ashesteppedtowardthereardoor。“It”skindofafadofminetokeepsomethingsevenfrommywife！“

“Allright，Spider——Iunderstand，“thechauffeurreturnedreadily。

JimmieDale”sknifecutatinyslitinthecretonneonalevelwithhiseyes。Thethreemenhadseatedthemselvesatthetable，andappearedtobelisteningintently。SpiderJack”sfootstepsechoedbackashecrossedtherearroom，soundeddullandmuffleddescendingthestoopoutside，anddiedaway。

“Itoldyouitwasn”tinthehouse！“themanwhohadbeenintroducedasSteadlaughedshortly。“Wewastedthehourwehadhere。”

Thethirdmanspokecrisply，incisively，tothechauffeur。

“Turndownthatgasjetalittle！You”vegotacrosswithitsofar——

butyoucan”tstandasearchlight，Clarke！

Andatthewords，inaflash，themeaningofit，allofit，tothelastdetailthatwasspellingdeath，ruin，anddisasterforher，theTocsin，forhimselfaswell，burstuponJimmieDale。ThatVOICE！

Hewouldhaveknownit，recognisedit，amongathousand——itwasthemaskedmanofthenightbefore，theleader，theheadoftheCrimeClub！AnditwasnotTraversthereatall！Herememberednow，toowell，thatsecondroomtheyhadshowedhimintheCrimeClub——itsmultitudeofdisguises，thoughinthiscasetheyhadthedeadman”sclothesreadytotheirhands——theleader”sboastthatimpersonationwasbutchild”splaytothem！Andnowheunderstoodwhytheyhadcoveredupthetracesoftheirsearchinonlysocuriouslyinadequateamanner。Theyhadfailedtofindthepackage，and，asalastresort，hadadoptedtheruseofimpersonatingHiltonTravers，thechauffeur，whichmadeitnecessarythatwhentheycalledSpiderJackfromhisbed，astheyhadjustdone，thatSpiderJack，ataCASUALglance，shouldnoticenothingamiss——butitwouldbenomorethanacasualglance，for，whoshouldknowbetterthanthey，hewouldnothavetogoforthepackagetoanyplacethattheyhaddisturbed！Andhe，JimmieDale，couldonlystandhereandwatchthem，helpless，powerlesstomove！Threeofthem！Astepoutintotheroomwastoinvitecertaindeath。Itwouldnotmatter，hisdeath——ifhecouldgainanythingforher，fortheTocsin，byit。

Butwhatcouldhegain——bydying？Heclenchedhishandsuntilthenailsbitintotheflesh。

SpiderJackre-enteredtheroom，carryingwhatlookedlikealarge，bulky，manilaenvelope，heavilysealed，inhishand。Hetosseditonthetable。

“Thereyouare，Travers！“hesaid。

“Iwonder，“suggestedtheleaderpleasantly，“if，nowthatwe”rehere，Travers，yourfriendwouldmindlettingushavethisroomforafewminutestoourselvestocleanupthebusiness？“

“Sure！“agreedSpiderJackcordially。“You”rewelcometoit！I”llwaitouthereinthestoreuntilyousaytheword。”

Hewentout，closingthedoorafterhim。Theleaderpickedupthepackage。

“We”lltakenochanceswiththis，“hesaidgrimly。“It”sbeentoocloseacall。Afterwe”vehadalookatit，we”llputitoutofharm”swayonthespot，here，whilewe”vegotit——beforeweleave！“

Herippedthepackageopen，anddisclosedperhapsadozenofficial-

lookingdocuments，besidesamiscellaneousnumberofothers。Hetookupthefirstofthepapers，glancedthroughithurriedly，thentossedittothepseudochauffeur。

“Tearitup，andtearitup——SMALL！“heorderedtersely。Thenext，afterexaminingitashehadthefirst，hetossedtotheotherman。

“Goahead！“——curtly。“Workfast！Fromthelooksofthese，Travershaduscold！There”sproofenoughhereofLaSalle”smurdertosendusalltothechair！“

Hewentonglancingthroughthedocuments；andthensuddenly，joiningtheothersintheirwork，begantoripandtearatthepapershimself。

AsortofcoldhorrorhadsettleduponJimmieDale，andhisforeheadwasclammywet。Theinhumanironyofit！Thatheshouldstandthereandwatch，impotenttopreventit，thedestructionofwhathewouldhavegivenhislifetosecure！Andthenslowly，agrim，hard，mercilesssmilecametohislips。Hehadrecognisedtheleader”svoice——nowhewouldrecognisetheleader”sFACE。Atleast，thatwaslefttohim——perhapsthemastertrumpofall。ItwouldnotbeveryhardtofindtheCrimeClubnow——withthatmantoleadtheway！

Thescrapsofpaper，tinyshreds，mountedintoaheaponthetable——

andwiththelastofthecontentsofthepackagedestroyed，theleaderstoodup。

“Putthesepiecesinyourpockets；wedon”twanttoleavethemhere，“hedirectedquietly。“Andthenlet”sgetout。”

Inscarcelyamoment，thelastscrapofpaperhadvanished。Thethreemenwalkedtothedoor，passedthroughit，andjoinedSpiderJackinthestore——andJimmieDale，slippingoutfrombehindthecurtain，gainedthedooroftherearroom，creptthroughit，reachedthestoop，andthen，dartinglikethewindacrosstheyard，wasoverthefenceinasecond，andinanotherwasoutofthealleywayandonthestreet。

Hewasintime——inplentyoftime。TheyhadjustleftSpiderJack”s，andwere，perhaps，fiftyyardsorsoaheadofhim。Heslouchedonbehindthem——thecold，grimsmileonhislipsoncemore。

ItwastheCrimeClubnow，thathell”scradlewheretheirdevil”sschemeswerehatched，thatwastheonethinglefttohim；theywouldleadhimtothat，andthen——andthenitwouldbehisturntoSTRIKE！

Theyturnedthefirstcorner。Andsuddenly，astheracingengineofanautomobilecaughthisear，hebrokeintoarun，anddashedaroundthecornerafterthem——intimetoseethemjumpintoacar，andthecarspeedoffalongthestreet！Hehalted，asthoughheweresuddenlydazed——startedinvoluntarilytorunforwardagain——stoppedwithahollowlaughatthefutilityofit——andstoodstillandmotionlessonthesidewalk。

Andthenheswayedalittle，andhisfacegrewgray。Failure，defeat，ruin——inthatmomentheknewthemalltotheirbitterestdregs。Howcouldhegotoher！Howcouldhefaceher，andtellherthattheywerebeaten，thatthelasthopewasgone，thathehadfailed！

“God！“hecriedaloud，andclenchedhishands。

Thendeepinhisconsciousnessathoughtstirred，andhesweptashakinghandacrosshiseyes。Whyhaditcomeagain，thatthought！

DiditmeanthatHEmustplay——thelastcard！Therewasaway——

therehadalwaysbeenaway。ThewaytheCrimeClubtook——MURDER。

Itwastheirownweapon！IfthemanwhoposedasHenryLaSallewerekilled！Ifthatman——werekilled！

“TheMagpiewastobethereatthree！“hemuttered——andstartedmechanicallybackalongthestreet。

CHAPTERXIII

THEONLYWAY

Itwasahorriblething——anditgrewuponhim。Inablind，mechanicalway，hisbrainreceptivetonothingelse，JimmieDalewalkedonalongthestreet。Tokillaman！Deathhehadfacedhimselfahundredtimes，witnesseditahundredtimesinitsmostviolentforms，hadseenmurderdonebeforehiseyes，hadbeeninstraitswhere，tosavehisownlife，ithadseemedtheonelastdesperatechance——andyethishandswerestillclean！Tokillamaninfairfight，instruggle，whenthebloodwashot，wasterribleenough，apossibilitythatwasalwaysbeforehim，theonethingfromwhichheshrank，theonethingthat，astheGraySeal，hehadalwaysfeared；buttokillamandeliberately，tocreepuponhisvictimwithhideous，cold-bloodedpremeditation——heshiveredalittle，andhishandshookashedrewitnervouslyacrosshiseyes。

Buttherewasnootherway！Againandagain，insidiouslygrapplingwithhisrevulsion，withthehorrorthattheimpulsetomurderinspired，camethatotherthought——therewasnootherway。IfthemanwhoposedasHenryLaSallewereDEAD！Ifheweredead！Ifheweredead！See，now，whatwouldhappenifthatmanweredead！Howclearhisbrainwasonthatpoint！ThewholeplotwouldtumblelikeahouseofcardsabouttheheadsoftheCrimeClub。Thecourtswouldrequireanauditingoftheestatebyatrusteeofthecourts”

ownappointing，whowouldcontinuetoadministerituntiltheTocsin”stwenty-fifthbirthday，oruntiltherewastangibleevidenceofherdeath——buttheTocsin，automaticallywithherpseudouncle”sdeath，couldpubliclyappearagain。HerdeathcouldnolongerbenefittheCrimeClub，sinceit，theCrimeClub，withthesupposeduncledead，couldnotprofitthroughthefalseHenryLaSalleinheritingasnextofkin！Itwastheweaklink，thevulnerablepointinthestupendousschemeofmurderandcrimewithwhichthesehellfiendshadplayedforandwon，sofar，thestakeofelevenmillions。Notthattheyhadoverlookedorbeenblindtothis，theyweretooclever，toocunningforthat——itwasonlythattheyhadplannedtoaccomplishtheTocsin”sdeath，astheyhadherfather”sanduncle”s，andESTABLISHthefalseHenryLaSalleinundisputedpossessionandownershipoftheestate——andhadfailedinthat——uptothepresent。Butthematerialresultsremainedthesame，solongastheTocsin，tosaveherlife，wasforcedtoremaininhiding，solongasproofthatwouldconvicttheCrimeClubwasnotforthcoming——

SOLONGASTHATMANLIVED！

TimepassedtowhichJimmieDalewasoblivious。Attimeshewalkedslowly，scarcelymoving；attimeshispacewasanervous，hurriedstride，thatwasalmostarun。Andashewasoblivioustotime，sowasheoblivioustohissurroundings，tothedirectionwhichhetook。Attimeshisforeheadwasdampwithmoisturethatwasnottherefromphysicalexertion；attimeshisface，deathlywhite，wasfullasofthevisionofsomeshuddering，abhorrentsight；attimeshislipswerethinnedintoastraightline，andtherewasaglitterinthedarkeyesthatwasnotgoodtosee，whilehishandsathissidesclencheduntiltheskin，tightovertheknuckles，wasanivorywhite。Tokillaman！

Whatotherwaywasthere？TheproofthatithadtakenHiltonTraversyearstoobtain，theproofonwhichtheTocsin”slifedepended，wasdestroyedutterly，irreparably。Itcouldneverbeduplicated——HiltonTraverswasdead——MURDERED。Murder！Thatthoughtagain！Itwastheirownweapon！Murder！Wouldonekillavenomousreptileinwhosefangswasdeath？Whatrighthadthismantolife，whoselifewasforfeitevenunderthelaw——formurder？Wasshetodragonanintolerableexistenceamongthedregsandthescumoftheunderworld，she，inherrefinementandherpurity，toexistamongthevileanddissolute，indaily，hourlyperilofherlife，becausetheweaponsthattheseinhumanvultureshadusedtorobher，todestroythosesheloved，tomakeofherlifeahideous，joylessthing，shouldnotbeusedagainstthem？

Buttokillaman！Tostealuponamanwithcoldintentintheblacknessofthenight——andtakehislife！Tobeamurderer！Toknowthehorrorofbloodforeveruponone”shands，torise，cold-

sweated，inthenight，fearfuloftheveryshadowsaroundone，tolivewitheverydetailofthatfearsomeactsweepinglikesomedreadspectreatunexpectedmomentsupontheconsciousness！Heputuphishandsbeforehisface，asthoughtoblotoutthethoughtfromhim。

Mindandsoulrecoiledbeforeit——tokillaman！

Hewalkedonandon，untilatlast，consciousofasenseoffatigue，hestopped。Hemusthavecomealongway，beenwalkingalongtime。

Wherewashe？Helookedabouthimforamomentinadazedway——andsuddenly，withalowcry，shrankback。Asthoughhehadbeendrawntoitbysomeghastlymagnet，hefoundhimselfstandinginfrontoftheLaSallemansion，onFifthAvenue。No，no；itwasnotforthathehadcome——tokillaman！Itwasonly——onlytogetthatmoney。

Yes——herememberednow——thatmoneyfromthesafe，beforetheMagpiegotit。TheMagpiewastobethereatthreeo”clock——andtheTocsinwastobethere，too。TheTocsin！Thatpackage！Hehadfailed！

Ithadbeenheronehope，and——anditwasgone。Whatcouldhesaytoher？Howcouldhetellherthemiserabletruth？But——buthehadnotcomethereinthedeadofnighttokillaman，theseotherthingswerewhathad——

“Jimmie！“Itwasaquick-breathedwhisper。Ahandwasonhisarm。

Heturned，startled。ItwastheTocsin——SilverMag。

“Jimmie！“inalarm。“Whyareyoustandingherelikethis？YoumaybeSEEN！“

Seen！SupposeheWEREseen？Heshudderedalittle。

“Yes；that”sso！“hesaidhoarsely。Heglancednumblyupanddownthewide，deserted，butwell-lighted，avenue。Itwasnoplace，thatmostaristocraticsectionofthecity，forsuchasSilverMagandLarrytheBattobeseenatthathourofnight，or，rather，morning。

AndifanythingHAPPENEDinsidethathouse！“I——Ididn”tthinkofthat，“hesaidmechanically。

“Comeacrossthestreet——underthestoopofthathousethere。”Shehadhisarm，andwashalfdragginghimasshespoke，thealarminhervoiceintensified。Andthen，amomentlater，safefromobservation：“Jimmie，Jimmie，whatisthematter？Whathashappened？Whatmakesyouactsostrangely？“

“Nothing，“hesaid。“I”

“TELLme！“sheinsistedwildly。

Andthen，withaviolenteffort，JimmieDaleforcedhismindbacktotheimmediatepresent。Hewasonlyinspiringherwithterror——andtherewastheMagpie——andthatmoneyinthesafe！

“WhereistheMagpie？“heasked，withquickapprehension。“AmI

late？Isheintherealready？“

“No，“shesaid。“Hehasn”tcomeyet。”

“Whattimeisit？“hedemandedanxiously。

“Abouthalf-pasttwo，“shereplied。“But，Jimmie”

“Wait！“hebrokein。“Whereishenow？Youwerebothtogether！

Andyouwerebothtobehereatthree。Whatareyoudoingherealoneathalf-pasttwo？“

Astrangelittleexclamation，onealmostofdismay，itseemed，escapedher。

“TheMagpieleftmyplaceanhourago——togethiskit，Ithink。AndIcamehereatoncebecausethatwaswhatyouandIunderstoodIwastodo，wasn”tit？Jimmie，youfrightenme！Youarenotyourself。

Don”tyourememberthelastwordsyousaid，asyounoddedtomebehindtheMagpie”sback——thatyouwouldbehereBEFOREus？Therewasnomistakingyourmeaning——ifIcouldgetawayfromhim，Iwastocomehereandmeetyou。”

JimmieDalepassedhishandnervouslyacrosshiseyes。Ofcourse，herememberednow！Whatafrightfulturmoilhisbrainhadbeenin！

“Yes；ofcourse！“Hetriedtospeaknonchalantly。“Ihadforgottenforthemoment。”

Shecaughthisarminaquick，tighthold，shakinghiminaterrifiedway。

“YOU——forgetathinglikethat！Jimmie——somethingterriblehashappened。Can”tyouseethatIamnearlymadwithanxiety！Whatisit？Whatisit？Thatpackage，Jimmie——isitthepackage？“

Hedidnotanswer。Whatcouldhesay？Itmeantlife，hope，joy，everythingthattheworldheldforher——anditwasgone。

“Yes——itISthepackage！“shewhisperedfrantically。“Quick，Jimmie！Tellme！It——itwasnotthere？You——youcouldnotfindit？“

“Itwasthere，“hesaid，asthoughthewordswereliterallyforcedfromhim。

“Then？Then——WHAT，Jimmie？“Theclutchonhisarmwaslikeavise。

“Theygotit，“hesaid。Itwaslikeadeathsentencethathepronounced。“Itisdestroyed。”

Shedidnotspeakormove——savethatherhands，asthoughnervelessandwithoutstrength，fellawayfromhisarms，anddroppedtohersides。Itwasdarkthereunderthestoop，thoughnotsodarkbutthathecouldseeherface。Itwasgray——grayasdeath。Andtherewasmiseryandfearandapitifulhelplessnessinit——andthensheswayedalittle，andhecaughtherinhisarms。

“Gone！“shemurmuredinadead，colourlessway——andsuddenlylaughedoutsharply，hysterically。

“Don”t！ForGod”ssake，don”tdothat！“hepleadedwildly。

Shelookedathimthenforamomentinstrangequiet——andliftedherhandandstrokedhisfaceinanumbedway。

“It——itwouldhavebeenbetter，Jimmie，wouldn”tit，“shesaidinthesamemonotonousvoice，“itwouldhavebeenbetterif——ifIhadneverfoundoutanything，andthey——theyhaddonethesametomethattheydidto——tofather。”

“Marie！Marie！“Itwasthefirsttimehehadeverspokenhername，anditwasonhislipsnowinanagonyoftendernessandappeal。

“Don”t！Youmustn”tspeaklikethat！“

“I”mtired，“shesaid。“I——Ican”tfightanymore。”

Shedidnotcry。Shelaythereinhisarmsquitestill——likeawearychild。

Theminutespassed。WhenJimmieDalespokeagainitwasirrelevantly——andhisfacewasverywhite：

“Marie，describetheupperfloorofthathouseoverthereforme。”

Sherousedherselfwithastart。

“Theupperfloor？“sherepeatedslowly。“Why——whydoyouaskthat？“

“HaveYOUforgotteninturn？“hesaid，withasteadysmile。“Thatmoneyinthesafe——it”syours——wecanatleastsavethatoutofthewreck。YouonlydrewthebasementplanandthefirstfloorfortheMagpie——themoreIknowaboutthehousethebetter，ofcourse，incaseanythinggoeswrong。Now，see，tryandbebrave——andtellmequickly，forImustgetthroughbeforetheMagpiecomes，andIhavebarelyhalfanhour。”

“No，Jimmie——no！“Sheslippedoutofhisarms。“Letitalone！I

amafraid。Something——I——Ihaveafeelingthatsomethingwillhappen。”

“Itistheonlyway。”Hesaiditinvoluntarily，moretohimselfthantoher。

“Jimmie，letitalone！“shesaidagain。

“No，“hesaid。“Iamgoing——sotellmequickly。Everyminutethatwewaitisonethatcountsagainstus。”

Shehesitatedaninstant——andthen，speakingrapidly，madeaverbalsketchoftheupperportionofthehouseforhim。

“It”saverylargehouse，isn”tit？“hecommentedinnocently——topavethewayforthequestion，aboveallothers，thathehadtoask。

“Whichisyouruncle”s，Imeanthatman”sroom？“

“Thefirstontheright，attheheadofthelanding，“sheanswered。

“Only，Jimmie，don”t——don”tgo！“

Hedrewherclosetohimagain。

“Now，listen，“hesaidquietly。“WhentheMagpiecomesandfindsI

amnothere，leadhimtothinkthatthemoneyhegavemewastoomuchforme；thatIamprobablyinsomeden，dopedwithdrug——andholdhimaslongasyoucanonthepretextthatthereisalwaysthepossibilityImay，afterall，showupbeforehegoesinthere。Youunderstand？Andnowaboutyourself——youmustdoexactlyasIsay。

OnnoaccountallowyourselftobeseenbyANYONEexcepttheMagpie。Iwouldtellyoutogonow，only，unlessitisvitallynecessary，wecannotaffordtoarousetheMagpie”ssuspicions——he”dhaveeverycrookintheunderworldsnarlingatourheels。Butyouarenottowait，evenforhim，ifyoudetecttheslightestdisturbanceinthathousebeforehecomes。And，equally，afterhehasgonein，whetherIhavecomeoutornot，atthefirstindicationofanythingunusualyouaretogetawayatonce。Youunderstand——

Marie？“

“Yes，“shesaid。“But——but，Jimmie，you”

“Justonethingmore。”Hesmiledatherreassuringly。“DidtheMagpiesayanythingabouthowheintendedtogetin？“

“Yes——bythesideawayfromthecornerofthestreet，“shesaidtremulously。“Yousee，there”squiteaspacebetweenthehouseandtheonenextdoor；and，besides，thehousenextdoorisclosedup，there”snobodythere，thefamilyhasgoneawayforthesummer。Thelibrarywindowthereislowenoughtoreachfromtheground。”

Foramomentlongerheheldherclosetohim，asthoughhecouldnotlethergo——thenbentandkissedherpassionately。AndinthatmomentalltheemotionshehadknownashehadwalkedblindlyfromSpiderJack”sthatnightsurgedagainuponhim；andthatvoicewaswhispering，whispering，whispering：“Itistheonlyway——itistheonlyway。”

Andthen，notdaringtotrusthisvoice，hereleasedhersuddenly，andsteppedbackoutfromunderthestoop——andthenextinstanthewasacrossthedesertedavenue。Another，andhehadslippedthroughtheirongatesthatopenedonthestreetdriveway——andinyetanotherhewascrouchedcloseupagainstthefrontdooroftheLaSallemansion。

Itwasalargehouse，averylargehouse，oneofthefewthat，evenamidthewealthandluxuryofthatquarter，boasteditsowngrounds，andthosesorestrictedasscarcelytodeservethename；butitwassetfarenoughbackfromthestreettoescapetheradiusofthestreetlamps，andsoguaranteeinitsshadowssecurityfromobservation。ItwasnottheMagpie”sway，thefrontdoor——theobvioustotheMagpieandhisilkwasathingalwaystobeshunned。

JimmieDale”slipsweresetinagrimsmile，ashisfingersworkedwithlightningspeed，nowtakingthisinstrumentandnowthatfromtheleatherpocketsinthegirdlebeneathhisshirt——thepenitentiarieswerefullofMagpieswhoshunnedtheobvious！

Veryslowly，verycautiouslythedooropened。Helistenedbreathlessly，tensely。Thedoorclosedagain——behindhim。Hewasinsidenow。Stillness！Blackness！Notasound！Aminutewentby——

another。Andthen，ashestoodthere，strained，listening，thesilenceitselfbegan，itseemed，topalpitate，andpound，pound，pound，andbefullofstrangenoises。Itwasahorriblething——tokillaman！

CHAPTERXIV

OUTOFTHEDARKNESS

Amomentlater，JimmieDalesteppedforwardthroughthevestibule。

Hewasquitecalmnow；asortofcold，mercilessprecisionineverymovementsucceedingtheriotofturbulentemotionsthathadpossessedhimashehadenteredthehouse。

Thehalfhour，themaximumlengthoftimebeforetheMagpiewouldappear，ashehadestimateditwhenoutthereunderthestoopwiththeTocsin，haddwindlednowtoperhapstwentyminutes，twenty-fiveattheoutside。Twenty-fiveminutes！Twenty-fiveminuteswassolittlethatforaninstantthetemptationwasstronguponhimtosacrifice，ratherthananyofthosepreciousminutes，theMagpieinstead！Andtheninthedarkness，ashestolenoiselesslyacrossthehall，heshookhishead。Itwouldbeacowardly，brutalthingtodo。WhatchancewouldamanwitharecordliketheMagpie”sstandifcaughtthere？HoweasyitwouldbetoshiftthemurderofthesupposedHenryLaSalletotheMagpie”sshoulders！JimmieDale”slipsclosedfirmly。Self-preservationwas，perhaps，thefirstlaw，buthewouldsavetheMagpieifhecould——theMagpieshouldhavehischance！Themanmightbeacriminal，mightdeservepunishmentatthehandsofthelaw，hislibertymightbeamenacetothecommunity——buthewasnotamurderer，hislifeforfeitforacrimehehadnevercommitted！

Ifhe，JimmieDale，couldonlyinsomewayhavearrangedwiththeTocsinouttheretokeeptheMagpieawayaltogether！ButitcouldnotbedonewithoutarousingtheMagpie”ssuspicions；and，asacorollarytothat，afterward，withthesubsequentevents，wouldcome——thedeluge！Thelawoftheunderworldwasclear，concise，andadmittingofnoappealonthatpoint；todoublecrossapalmeant，soonerorlater，aknifethrust，ablackjack，or——Butwhatdifferencediditmakewhatformtheexecutionofthesentencetook？

And，since，then，thatwasoutofthequestion，sincehecouldnotkeeptheMagpieawaywithoutpracticallyriskinghisownlife，theMagpieatleastmusthavehischance。

JimmieDalewasatthelibrarydoornow，that，accordingtotheplantheTocsinhaddrawnfortheMagpie，andasherememberedherdescriptionwhenshehadtoldhimherstoryearlierintheevening，wasjustatthefootofthestaircase。Howdarkitwas！Thoughthestairscouldbeonlyafewfeetaway，hecouldnotseethem。Andhowintensethesilencewasagain！Here，wherehestood，theslighteststirfromabovemusthavereachedhim——buttherewasnotasound。

Hishandfeltoutforthedoorknob，foundit，turnedit，andpushedthedooropen。Hesteppedinsidetheroomandclosedthedoorbehindhim。Thesafe，accordingtotheTocsin”splanagain，wasinthatsortofalcoveatthelowerendofthelibrary。JimmieDale”sflashlightplayedinquisitivelyabouttheroom。Therewasthewindow，theonlyoneintheroom，thewindowthroughwhichtheMagpieproposedtoenter；therewasthearchwayofthealcove，withits——no，therewerenolongeranyportieres；andtherewasthesafe，hecouldseeitquiteplainlyfromwherehestoodattheupperendoftheroom。

Theflashlightwentoutforthespaceofperhapsthirtyseconds——

thirtysecondsofabsolutesilence，absolutestillness——thentheround，whiterayofthelightagain，butglisteningnowonthenickelknobsanddialofthesafe——andJimmieDalewasonhiskneesbeforeit。

Alow，scarcelybreathedexclamation，thatseemedtomingleanxietyandhesitation，escapedhim。He，whoknewthemakeofeverysafeinthecountry，knewthisoneforitstrueworth。Twenty-fiveminutes！

Couldheopenitinthattime，letalonewithanytimetospare！ItwasnotliketheoneinSpiderJack”s；itwasthekindthattheMagpie，howevercleverhemightbeinhisownway，wouldbeforcedtonegotiatewith“soup，“and，withtheattendantnoise，doublehischanceofdiscoveryandcapture——andtheresponsibilityforwhatmighthavehappenedUPSTAIRS！No；theMagpiemusthavehischance！

And，besides，themoneyinthesafeapart，whyshouldnothe，JimmieDale，havehisownchance，aswell？Allthiswouldhelp。Themotive——robbery；theperpetrator，therewasgrimmockeryonhislipsnowasthelightwentoutandthesensitivefingersclosedontheknobofthedial，theperpetrator——theGraySeal。Itwouldaffordexcellentfoodfortheviolenteditorialdiatribesunderwhichthepoliceagainwouldwritheinfrenzy！

Stillnessagain！Silence！Onlyalow，tensebreathing；only，sofaintthatitcouldnotbeheardafootaway，acuriousscratching，asfromtimetotimethesupersensitivefingersfellawayfromthedialtorubuponthecarpet——toincreaseeventheirsensitivenessbysettingthenervestothrobbingthroughtheskinsurfaceatthetips。AndthenJimmieDale”shead，earpressedcloseagainstthesafetocatchthetumbler”sfall，waslifted——andtheflashlightplayedagainonthedial。

“Twenty-eightandaquarter——left。”

Howfastthetimewent——andhowslowly！Stilltheblackshapecrouchedthereinthedarknessagainstthesafe。Attimes，instrange，ghostlyflashes，thenickeldialwiththerayuponitseemedtoleapoutandglistenthroughthesurroundingblackness；attimes，thequickintakeofbreath，asfromgreatexertion；attimes，faint，musicallittleclicks，as，afterabortiveeffort，thedialwhirled，preparatorytoafreshattempt。Andthen，atlast——agaspofrelief：

“Ah！“

Camethesound，barelyaudible，asofsteelslidinginwell-oiledgrooves，themuffledthudofmetalmeetingmetalastheboltsshotback——andtheheavydoorswungoutward。

JimmieDalestretchedhiscrampedlimbs，andwipedthemoisturefromhisface——thensettoworkagainupontheinnerdoor。Thiswasaneasiermatter——fareasier。Fiveminutes，perhapsalittlemore，wentby——andthentheinnerdoorwasopen，andtheflashlight”sraywasfloodingtheinteriorofthesafe。

Aqueerlittlesound，halfofastonishment，halfofdisappointment，issuedfromJimmieDale”slips。Therewasmoneyhere，agreatdealofmoney，undoubtedly，buttherewasnosuchsumashehad，somehow，fantasticallyimaginedfromtheMagpie”sevidentlyovercolouredstorythattherewouldbe；therewasmoney，tenpackagesofbanknotesneatlypiledinthebottomcompartment——buttherewasnohalfmillionofdollars！Hepickeduponeofthepackageshurriedly——anddrewinhisbreath。Afterall，therewasagreatdeal——thenoteswereofhundred-dollardenomination，andonthebottomweretwoone-thousand-dollarbills！Calculatedroughly，ifeachoftheotherninepackagescontainedalikeamount，thetotalmustexceedahundredthousand。

AndnowJimmieDalebegantoworkwithfeverishhaste。Fromtheleathergirdleinsidehisshirtcamethethinmetalinsigniacase——

andagraysealwasstuckfirmlyonthedialknobofthesafe。Thisdone，hetuckedawaythepackagesofbanknotes，someintohispocketsandsomeinsidehisshirt；andthenquicklyransackedtheinteriorofthesafe，flauntinglyspillingthecontentsofdrawersandpigeonholesoutuponthefloor。

Hestoodup，and，leavingthesafedoorwideopen，walkedbackacrosstheroomtothewindow，unfastenedthecatch，andopenedthewindowaninchortwo。ThewaywasopennowfortheMagpie！TheMagpiewouldhavenoneedtomakeanynoiseinforcinganentrance；

hewouldbeabletoseealmostataglancethathehadbeenforestalled——bytheGraySeal；andthat，asfarashewasconcerned，thegamewasup。TheMagpiehadhischance！IftheMagpiedidnottakethehintandmakehisescapeasnoiselesslyashehadentered——

itwashisownfault！He，JimmieDale，hadgiventheMagpiehischance。

JimmieDaleturnedfromthewindow，andmadehiswayoutofthelibrarytothefootofthestairs，leavingthelibrarydooropenbehindhim。Howlonghadhebeen？Wasitmoreorlessthanthetwenty-fiveminutes？Hedidnotknow——only，asyet，theMagpiehadnotcome，andnowperhapsitdidnotmakesomuchdifference。

Wherewashegoingnow？Hisfootwasonthefirststair——andsuddenlyhedrewitback，thecoldsweatburstingoutonhisforehead。Wherewashegoingnow？“THEFIRSTROOMONTHERIGHTAT

THEHEADOFTHELANDING。”Fromhisinnerconsciousness，asitwere，theanswer，inallthebald，nakedhorrorthatitimplied，flasheduponhim。Thefirstroomontheright——THATman”sroom！God，howthedarknessandthestillnessbegantopalpitateagain，andsuddenlyseemtoshriekoutathimoverandovertheonesingle，ghastlyword——MURDER！

Ithadbeenwithhim，thatthought，allthetimehehadbeenworkingatthesafe；butithadbeentherethenonlysubconsciously，likesomeheavy，namelessdread，subjugatedforthemomentbytheworkhehadhadtodowhichhaddemandedthecentredattentionofeveryfacultyhepossessed。ButnowthemomenthadcomewhentherewasonlyTHATbeforehim，onlythat，nothingelse——onlythat，themanupstairsinthefirstroomtotherightofthelanding！

Whydidhehesitate？Whydidhestandtherewhilethepricelessmomentsbeforedaylightcamewerepassing？Themanwasamurderer，ablotchonsociety，and，hislifealreadyforfeited，hewaslivingnowonlybecausethelawhadnotfoundhimout——themanwasacriminal，bloodstained——andhislife，becausehehadtakenherfather”slifeandhadtriedtotaketheTocsin”sownlife，stoodbetweenherandeveryhopeofhappiness，robbingherevenliterally，inamaterialsense，ofeverythingthattheworldcouldholdforher！Whydidhehesitate？Itwasthatman”slife——orhers！Itwastheonlyway！

Heputhisfootuponthebottomstepagain——pausedstillanotherinstant——andthenbeganstealthilytomountthestairs。Thedarkness！Therehadneverbeen，itseemed，suchdarknessbefore！

Thestillness——hehadneverknownsilencesoheavy，sofullofstrange，premonitorypulsings；asilencethatseemedsoincongruouslyfullofclamouringwhispersinhisears！Itmustbethoseimaginedwhispersthatwereaffectinghisnerve——fornow，ashegainedthelandingandslippedhisautomaticfromhispocket，hishandwasshakingwithaqueertwitchingmotion。

Foraninstant，fightingforhisself-composure，hestoodstrivingtolocatehissurroundingsthroughthedarkness。Thestaircasewasacircularone，makingthelandingnearlyatthefrontofthehouse，andrearwardfromthis，theTocsinhadsaid，ahallwayrandownthecentre，withroomsoneitherside。Thefirstroomtotheright，therefore，shouldbejustathishand。Hereachedout，feelingcautiously——therewasnothing。Heedgedtotheright——stillnothing；edgedalittlefarther，asenseofbewildermentgrowinguponhim，andfinallyhisfingerstouchedthewall。Itwasverystrange！Thehallwaymustbemuchwiderthanhehadunderstoodittobefromwhatshehadsaid！

Hemovedalongnowstraightaheadofhim，hishandonthewall，feelingforthedoor——andwitheverystephisbewildermentincreased。Surelytheremustbesomemistake——perhapshehadmisunderstood！Hehadcomefullytwicethedistancethatonewouldexpect——andyettherewasnodoor。Ah，whatwasthat？Hisfingersclosedonsoft，heavyvelvethangings。Thesecouldhardlybeinfrontofadoor，andyet——whatelsecoulditbe？Hedrewthehangingswarilyapart，andfeltbehindthem。Itwasawindow；butitwasshutteredinsomewayevidently，forhecouldnotseeout。

JimmieDalestoodmotionlessthereforfullyaminute。Itseemedabsurd，preposterous，theconvictionthatwasbeingforcedhomeuponhim——thattherewerenoroomsontheright-handsideofthecorridoratall！ButthatwasnotliketheTocsin，accuratealwaysinthemostminutedetails。Theroommustbestillfartheralong。Hewastemptedtousehisflashlight——butthat，aslongashecouldfeelhisway，wasanunnecessaryrisk。Aflashlightupstairs，whereasleeping-roomdoormightbeajar，orevenwideopen，wheresomeonewakeful，THATmanhimself，perhaps，mightseeit，wasquiteanothermatterthanaflashlightintheclosedanddesertedlibrarybelow！

Hewentononcemore，stillguidinghimselfbyalightfingertouchuponthewall，passedanotherportieresimilartothefirst，and，afterthat，another——andfinallystoppedbybringingupabruptlyagainsttheendwallofthehouse。Itwascertainlyverystrange！

ThereWEREnoroomsontheright-handsideofthecorridor。Andhere，hangingacrosstheendwall，wasanotherofthoseubiquitousvelvetportieres。Hepartedit，and，alittletohissurprise，foundawindowthatwasnotshuttered，butthat，instead，washeavilybarredbyanornamentalgrillework。Hecouldseeout，however，andfoundthathewaslookingdirectlyoutfromtherearofthehouse。Alampfromthesidestreetthrewwhatwasundoubtedlythegarageintoshadowyoutline，andhemadeoutbelowhimashortstretchofyardbetweenthegarageandthehouse。Herememberedthatnow——shehaddescribedallthattotheMagpie。Therewasnodrivewaybetweenthefrontandtherear。Thehousebeingonthecorner，theentrancetothegaragewasdirectlyfromthesidestreet。Yes，shehaddescribedallthatexactlyasitwas，but——hedroppedtheportiereandfacedaround，carryinghishandinanonplusedwaytohiseyes——buthere，upstairs，withinthehouse，itwasnotasshehadsaiditwasatall！Whatdiditmean？Shecouldnothaveblunderedsoegregiouslyasthat，unless——hecaughthisbreathsuddenly——unlessshehaddonesointentionally！Wasthatit？

Hadshesurmised，formedasuspicionofwhatwasinhismind，ofwhathemeanttodo——andtakenthismeansofdefeatingit？Ifso——

well，itwastoolateforthatnow！Therewasoneway——onlyoneway！Whateverthecost，whateveritmightmeanforhim——therewasonlyonewayoutforher。

Hisflashlightwasinhishandnow，andtheround，whiterayshotdownthecorridor——seemedsuddenlytofalterunsteadily——sweptinthroughanopendoorthatwasalmostbesidehim——andthen，asthoughanervelesshandheldit，theraydroppedandplayedshakilyonthetoeofhisbootbeforeitwentout。

Astifledcryrosetohislips。Somethingcold，likeahandofice，seemedtoclutchathisheart。Thoseportieres，thewide，richlycarpetedcorridor！Itwasthecorridorofthenightbefore！ThatroomathissidewastheroomwherehehadseenHiltonTravers，thechauffeur，dead，lashedinachair！Hefeltthesweatbeadsburstoutanewuponhisforehead。

ITWASTHECRIMECLUB！

CHAPTERXV

RETRIBUTION

Hisbrainseemedtowhirl，staggeredasbysomegigantic，ghastlymockery。TheCrimeClub！HERE！Hehadthoughttocreepuponthatman——andhehadrunblindlyintotheveryheartandcentreofthesehellfiends”nest！

Silentlyhestoodthere，holdinghisbreathashelistenednow，motionlessasastatue，forcinghismindtoTHINK。Herememberedthatlastnighthisimpressionoftheplacehadbeenthatitwasmorelikesomegreatprivatemansionthananythingelse。Well，hehadbeenright，itseemed！Hecouldhavelaughedaloud——

sardonically，hysterically。Itwasnotsostrangenowthattherewerenoroomsontheright-handsideofthecorridor！Andwhatcouldhavesuitedtheirpurposebetter，what，byitsverylocation，itsunimpeachablecharacter，couldbeamoreideallairforthemthanthishouse！Andhowgrimlysimpleitwasnow，theexplanation！

InthefiveyearsthatthefalseHenryLaSallehadbeeninpossession，theyhadcunninglyremodelledtheupperfloor——thatwasall！Itwasquiteclearnowwhythemanneverentertained——whyhehadneverbeencaughtorfoundorknowntobeincommunicationwithhisfellowconspirators！Itwasnolongercuriousthatonemightwatchthedoorofthehouseformonthsatastretchandgounrewardedforone”spains，astheTocsinhaddone，whenaccesstothehousebythosewhofrequenteditwassoeasythroughthegarageonthesidestreet——andfromthegarage，iftheirworktherewasinkeepingwiththeirclevercontrivanceswithinthehouse，byanundergroundconnectioninto，say，thecellarorbasement！

AgainJimmieDalecheckedthatnervous，unnaturalinclinationtolaughaloud。Wasthereanything，anysingleincident，anysingledetailofallthathadtranspired，thatwasnotexplained，borneout，asitcouldbeexplainedandborneoutinnootherwaysavethattheCrimeClubshouldbenootherthanthisveryhouseitself？

Itwastheexpositionofthatfavouritetheoryofhis——itwassoobviousthatthereinlayitssecurity。HehadmockedattheMagpienotmanymomentsbeforeonthatscore——andnowitwasthebeaminhisowneye！Itwassoobviousnow，soglaringlyobvious，thattheCrimeClubcouldhavebeennowhereelse；soobvious，witheverywordoftheTocsin”sstorypointingitoutlikeasignpost——andhehadnotseenit！

Andthensuddenlyeverymusclegrewstrainedandrigid。WASTHERE

SOMEONEINTHECORRIDOR？Wasitsomeonemoving——orwasitonlyfancy？Helistened——whilehestrainedhiseyesthroughthedarkness。Therewasnosound；onlythatabnormal，heavysilencethat——yes，herememberedthat，too，now——thathadclungabouthimlastnightlikeapall。Hecouldseenothing，hearnothing——butintuitively，bringingacolddismay，thegreaterbecauseitwassomethingunknown，intangible，heFELTasthougheyeswereuponhim，thateveninthedarknesshewasbeingwatched！

Andashestoodthere，then，slowlytherecreptuponJimmieDalethesenseofperilanddisaster。Itwasnotintuitionnow——itwascertainty。Hewastrapped！Itwasthepartofafooltoimaginethatwiththeirdevil”scunning，theircleverness，theiringenuity，he，oranyoneelse，couldenterthathouseunknowntoitsoccupants！Hadhemadeelectriccontactwhenhehadopenedthefrontdoor，andrungasignalhere，perhaps，upstairs——hadhesetsomesystemofalarmatworkwhenhehadtouchedthatwindow？Whatdiditmatter——thedetailsthathadheraldedhisentrance？Hewascertainnowthathispresenceinthehousewasknown。Only，whyhadtheylefthimsolongwithoutattack？Heshookhisheadwithaquick，impatientmovement。That，too，wasobvious！Hewasunderobservation。Whowashe？Whyhadhecome？Washesimplyapaltrysafe-tapper——orwasheonewhomtheyhadarealneedtofear？Andthen，too，theremightwellbeanotherreason。Itwasfarfromlikely，infactunreasonable，toimaginethatallthemenhehadseenherethenightbeforewereinthehousenow。Notmanyofthem，ifany，wouldLIVEhere，forCONSTANT，dailycomingandgoing，eventhroughthegarage，couldnotescapenotice；and，oftheservants，probablyalesserbreedofcriminal，someofthem，atleast，nodoubt，wereengagedatthatmomentinwatchinghisownhouseonRiversideDrive！TherewaseventhepossibilitythatthemanposingasHenryLaSallewas，forthetimebeing，herealone。

Heshookhisheadagain。Hecouldhardlyhopeforthat——hehadnorighttohopeforanythingmorenowthanastruggle，withaninevitablyfatalendingtohimself，butoneinwhichatleasthecouldsellhislifeasdearlyaspossible，oneinwhich，perhaps，hemightpaytheTocsin”sscorewiththemanhehadcometofind！Ifhecoulddothat——well，afterall，thepricewasnottoogreat！

Therewerenotremoursofthemusclesnow。ItwasJimmieDale，theGraySeal，everyfacultyalert，tense，keyeduptoitshighestefficiency；thebraincool，keen，andactive——fightingforhislife。

Thefrontdoorthroughwhichhehadenteredwasanimpossibility；

buttherewasthewindowinthelibrarythathehadopened——iftheywouldlethimgetthatfar！Thatwasasgoodachanceasany。Ifhemadeanefforttofind，say，awaytotheflataboveandchancedsomemeansofescapethere，itwouldinnowiseobviateanattackuponhim，andhewouldonlybeundertheaddeddisadvantageofunfamiliarsurroundings。

Feelingoutwithhislefthand，hisautomaticthrownalittleforwardinhisright，hebegantoretracehiswayalongtheblankwallofthecorridor，pausingbetweeneachsteptolisten，movingsilently，histreadontheheavycarpetasnoiselessasthoughitweresomeshadowcreepingthere。

Stillness——utter，absolute！Alwaysthatstillness。Alwaysthatsenseofdangeraroundhim——thetense，batedexpectancyofmomentaryattack——arevolverflashthroughthedarkness——asuddenrushuponhim。Butstilltherewasnothing——onlythedarkness，onlythesilence。

Hegainedtheheadofthestairsandbegantodescend——andnowthestrainbegantotelluponhisnervesagain。Againhewaspossessedofthemadimpulsetocryout，todoanythingthatwouldforcetheissue，thatwouldendthehorrible，unbearablesuspense。Whydidthatrevolvershotnotcome？Whyhadtheynotyetrusheduponhim？

Whyweretheyplayingwithhimasacatwithamouse？Orwasitallwild，fancifulimagination？NO！Whatwasthatagain！Hecouldhaveswornthistimethathehadheardasound，buthecouldneitherdefineitscharacter，norlocatethedirectionfromwhichithadcome。

Hewasatthefootofthestairsnow；and，guidinghimselfbythewall，movingnowbarelyaninchatatime，hereachedthelibrarydoorthathehadleftopen，andstoleinoverthethreshold。

Halfwaydowntheroomanddiagonallyacrossfromwherehestoodwasthewindow。Inamomentnowhecouldgainthat，buttheywouldneverlethimgosoeasily——andsoitmustcomenow，inthatnextmoment，theirattack！Wherewerethey？Whereweretheynow？Thetable——hemustremembernottobumpintothetable！Apausebetweeneachstep，hewascrossingtheroom。Hewashalfwaytothewindow。

Haditbeenallfancy，washeto——AndthenJimmieDalestoodmotionless。SOMEONEHADCLOSEDTHELIBRARYDOORSOFTLY！

Stillnessagain！Asortofdeadlycalmuponhim，JimmieDalefeltoutbehindhisbackforthebiglibrarytablethathehadbeencircuiting——ifthewindowwerewideopenitmightbedone，buttojumpforitandstandsilhouettedthereduringthepausenecessarytoflingthewindowupwaslittlelessthansuicidal。Heedgedbacknoiselesslyuntilhisfingerstouchedthetable；then，loweringhimselftohisknees，hebackedinunderneathit，andlayflatuponthefloor。Itwasnotmuchprotection，butithadoneadvantage：iftheyswitchedonthelightsitwouldshowanEMPTYroomforthefirstinstant，andthatinstantmeant——thefirstshot！

Whereweretheynow？Bythelibrarydoor？Howmanyofthemwerethere？Well，itwastheirmove！Twocouldplayatcatandmouseuntil——untilDAYLIGHT！Thatwasn”tveryfaroff，now，andwhenthatcamehemightstillhavethefirstshot，butafterthat——heturnedhisheadquicklytowardthewindow。Therewasafaintscratchingnoiseasoffingernailsgrippingthesill；thenthewindow，veryslowly，almostsilently，waspushedsteadilyupward，andadarkformloomedupoutside；andthen，crawlingthrough，amandropped，asthoughhisfeetwerepaddedlikeacat”sonthefloorinsidetheroom。TheMagpie！

Aflashlight”srayshotout——and，withatwistedsmileproppednowonhisleftelbowtogivefreeplaytohisrevolverarm，JimmieDalefollowedthewhitespoteagerlywithhiseyes。Butitdidnotcirclearound；instead，thelightwasturnedalmostinstantlytowardthelowerendoftheroom——and，asecondlater，washoldingsteadilyontheopendoorofthesafe，andthelitterofpapersonthefloor。

CameasavagegrowlofamazedfuryfromtheMagpie：thenhisstepdowntheroom；and，ashereachedthesafe，atorrentofunbridledblasphemy——andthen，inasortofstaggeredgasp，asheleanedsuddenlyforwardexaminingtheknobofthedial：

“TheGraySeal！“

AmomenttheMagpiestoodthere；andthen，cursingagaininabandon，turned，andstartedbackforthewindow，hisflashlightdancingbeforehim——andstopped，asnarloffuryonhislips。TheflashlightwasplayingfullonJimmieDaleunderthetable！

“LarrytheBat！TheGraySeal！ByGod！“chokedtheMagpie。“You——

you”TheMagpie”sflashlight，asheshifteditfromhisrighthandtohisleftandwrenchedouthisrevolver，hadfallenupontwomencrouchedcloseagainstthewallbythelibrarydoor——andhescreamedoutinanaccessoffury。“Dedoublecross！Aplant！Debulls！Youdamnedsnitch，Larry！“screamedouttheMagpie——andfired。

ThebullettoreintothecarpetbesideJimmieDale。Cameansweringshotsfromthemenbythedoor；andthentheMagpie，emptyinghisautomaticatthetwomenasheran，theflametonguescuttingviciouslanesoffirethroughthedarkness，dashedforthewindow。

Therewasacry，thecrashofaheavybodypitchingtothefloor——

andtheMagpiehadflunghimselfoutthroughthewindow，andinthemomentaryensuingsilencewithintheroomcamethesoundofhisfootstepsrunningonthegravelbelow。

Therewasalowmoan，themovementasofsomeonestaggeringandlurchingaround——andthenthelightswenton。ButforaninstantJimmieDaledidnotmove。Hewasstaringattheformofamanstillandmotionlessonthefloorinfrontofhim——themanwhohadposedasHenryLaSalle。Dead！Themanwasdead！Hismindranriotforamoment。Whereweretheothers——werethereonlythesetwo？Onlythesetwointhehouse！Onlythesetwo——andonewasdead！AndthenJimmieDalewasonhisfeet。Onewasdead——buttherewasstilltheother，themanwhowasreelingthere，backturnedtohim，bytheelectric-lightswitch。ButevenasJimmieDalesprangforward，thissecondman，clawingatthewallforsupport，slippedtohiskneesandfelluponthecarpet。

JimmieDalereachedhim，snatchedtherevolverfromhishand，andbentoverhim。Itwasthemanwhosenamehedidnotknow，butwhosefacehehadreasonenoughtoknowtoowell——itwastheleaderoftheCrimeClub。

Theman，thoughevidentlybadlywounded，smileddefiantlyinspiteofhispain。

“Soyou”retheGraySeal！“heflungoutcontemptuously。“Acleverenoughsafe-cracker——butonlyalowbrow，liketherestofthem。

Anotherillusiondispelled！Well，you”vegotthemoney——betterrun，hadn”tyou？“

JimmieDalemadenoanswer。Satisfiedthatthemanwastoobadlyhurttomove，hewentandbentoverthesilentforminthecentreoftheroom。Amoment”sexaminationwasenough。“HenryLaSalle“wasdead。

Hestoodtherelookingdownattheman。Itwaswhathehadcomefor——thoughitwastheMagpie，nothimself，whohadaccomplishedit！

Themanwasdead！Thewordsbegantorunthroughhismindinaqueerreiteration。Themanwasdead——themanwasdead！Hecheckedhimselfsharply。Hemustthinknow——thinkfast，andthinkRIGHT。

TheMagpieknewthatLarrytheBatwastheGraySeal——andasfastastheMagpiecouldgetthere，thenewswouldspreadlikewildfirethroughtheunderworld。“DeathtotheGraySeal！DeathtotheGraySeal！“Hecouldhearthatsloganringingagaininhisears，butashehadneverhearditbefore——withasnarloftriumphnowasofwolveswhoatlasthadpulledtheirquarrydown。Hehadnotasecondtospare——andyet——thatmanwoundedthereonthefloor！Whatofhim——guiltyofmurder，thebrainsofthisinhuman，monstrousorganisation，theonetowhom，moreeventhantothatdeadman，theTocsinowedthehorrorandthemiseryandthegriefanddespairthathadcomeintoherlife！Whatofhim？WhatoftheCrimeClubhere？

Whatofthisnestofvipers？Weretheytoescape？Weretheyto——

Withasudden，lowexclamation，JimmieDalejumpedforthetable，and，snatchingupthetelephone，rattledthehookviolently。

“Giveme“——hisvoicecameinwell-simulatedgasps，eachlikeamanfightingforeveryword”giveme——police——headquarters！Quick！

QUICK！I”ve——been——shot！“

Thewoundedmanonthefloorraisedhimselfonhiselbow。

“Whatareyoudoing？“hedemandedinastartledway。“Areyoumad！

Thankyourstarsyouwereluckyenoughtogetoutofthisalive——andgetoutnow，whileyouhavethechance！“

JimmieDalepressedhishandfirmlyoverthemouthpieceofthetelephone。

“I”llgo，“hesaid，withacoldsmile，“whenI”vesettledwithyou——

forthemurderofHenryLaSalle。”

“Thatman！“ejaculatedthemanscornfully，pointingtotheformonthefloor。“Sothat”syourgame！Goingtotryandcoveryourtracks！Why，youfool，ILIVEhere！DoyouthinkthepolicewouldimagineforaninstantthatIkilledhim？“

“Isaid——HENRYLASALLE，“saidJimmieDaleevenly。

Themancamefartheruponhiselbow，asuddenlookoffearinhisface。

“What——whatdoyoumean？“hecriedhoarsely。

ButJimmieDalewastalkingagainintothetelephone——gasping，chokingouthiswordsasbefore：

“Policeheadquarters？I”mHenryLaSalle。FifthAvenue。I——I”vebeenshot。Takedownthisstatement。I”ll——I”llbedeadbeforeyougethere——I”mnottherealHenryLaSalleatall。WemurderedHenryLaSalle——inAustralia，andmurderedPeterLaSallehere。We——wetriedtokillthedaughter，butsheranaway。Thishousehasbeenourheadquartersforthelastfiveyears。Themanwhoshotmeto-

nightistheleaderofthegang。Wequarrelledoverthedivisionofahaul。He”shereonthefloornow，wounded。Getthemall，getthemall，damnthem！——doyouhear？——getthemall！They”reoutofthehousenow，butlayatrapforthem。Theyalwayscomeinthroughthegarageonthesidestreet。Oh，God，I”mdonefor！Breakdownthewestwallsoftheroomsupstairs——if——you——wantproofofwhat——

thegang”sbeendoing。Hurry！Hurry！I”m——I”m——donefor——I”

JimmieDalepermittedthetelephonetodropwithaclashfromhishandtothetable。

Thefaceofthemanonthefloorwaslivid。

“Whoareyou？InGod”sname，whoareyou？“hecriedoutwildly。

“Doesitmatter？“inquiredJimmieDalegrimly。“Yourgameisup。

You”llgotothechairforthemurderof”HenryLaSalle”——ifitisbyproxy！Thoseroomsupstairsaloneareenoughtodamnyou，toproveeverywordofthatdying“confession“——butto-morrow，addedtoit，willcomethestoryofMarieLaSalleherself。”

Foramomentthemanhungthereswayingonhiselbow，hisfaceworkinginghastlyfashion——andthensuddenly，withastrangelaugh，hecarriedonehandswiftlytohismouth——andlaughedagain——andbeforeJimmieDalecouldreachhimwaslifelessonthefloor。

Atinyvialrolledawayuponthecarpet。JimmieDalepickeditup。

Adroportwoofliquidstillremainedinit——colourless，clear，likethatliquidthissamemanhaddroppedintotherabbit”smouththenightbefore，liketheliquidintheglassestheyhadcarriedintothatthirdroom，liketheliquidthathismanhadsaidwasfromaformulaoftheirown，thatwasinstantaneousinitsaction，thatdefieddetectionbyautopsy！

Theset，sternfeaturesofJimmieDalerelaxed。Itwasjustice——butitwasalsodeath。Inasurgeofemotion，theeventsofscarcelymorethantwenty-fourhours，begantocrowduponhim——andthen，ominouslydominant，aboveallelse，thatsloganoftheunderworld，“DeathtotheGraySeal！“cameringingoncemoreinhisears。Itbroughthim，withastartledmovementofhishandacrosshiseyes，toarealisationofhisowndesperateposition。Yes，yes，hemustgo！ThewaywasclearnowfortheTocsin——clearnowforher！

Hedroppedthevialintohispocket，and，runningtothesafe，quicklyscrapedthegraysealfromthedial”sknob；thenhedrewthepackagesofmoneyfromhisshirtandpocketsandtossedthemontheflooramongthelitterofpapersalreadythere——shewouldgetitbackagainwhenithadserveditspurpose，itwouldbeself-evidentthatitwastheproceedsofthatday”ssaleoftheestate”ssecuritiesoverwhichthe“quarrel“hadoccurred！

Andnowthewindow！Herantoit，closedit，andLOCKEDit；then，layingtherevolverhehadtakenfromtheleaderdownbesidetheman，hesteppedacrosstheroomagainanddrewthebodyof“HenryLaSalle“closertothetable——asthoughthemanhadfallentherewhenthetelephonehaddroppedfromhishand。

Itwasdonenow！Onthefloorbesidehimlayeachman”sweapon——andbothoftherevolvershadbeendischargedseveraltimes。JimmieDalepausedonthelibrarythresholdforafinalsurveyoftheroom。

Itwasdone！Thewaywasclear——forher。Andnowifhecouldonlysavehimself！TherewasnochanceforLarrytheBat！Couldhesave——JIMMIEDALE！

Hecrossedthehall，aqueer，half-grim，half-wistfulsmileonhislips，unlockedthefrontdoor，steppedout，lockeditbehindhim——

andinanothermoment，doublingaroundthecorner，wasrunningalonglikeaharealongthesidestreet。

CHAPTERXVI

“DEATHTOTHEGRAYSEAL！“

OnJimmieDaleran。AcrossonFourthAvenueheswungonacarthattookhimtoAstorPlace。Thenstrikingeastoncemore，makingadetourtoavoidtheBowery，heranonattopspeedagain。ToreachtheSanctuary，notbeforetheMagpieshouldhavespreadthealarm，thatwasimpossible，buttoreachitbeforetheunderworldshouldhavehadtimetorecoveritsbreath，asitwere，beforetheunderworldshouldhavehadtimetoact——thatwashisonlychance！

TheMagpiehad，attheoutside，astartoffifteenminutes；buthe，JimmieDale，hadprobablyretrievedfiveminutesofthatinthetimehehadmadeingettingdowntown。ThatlefttheMagpietentothegood。HowlongwouldittaketheMagpietobringtheunderworldswarminglikehornetsaroundtheSanctuary？

OnLarrytheBatran。AttheSanctuaryweretheclothes，thebelongingsofJimmieDale。CouldhesaveJimmieDale！Ifhecouldgetthere，change，andgetoutagain，thewaywasclearforhim——asclearasfortheTocsinnow。InafewhoursthepolicewouldhaveeverymemberoftheCrimeClubinthetrap；therewouldbenowatchanymorearoundhishouseonRiversideDrive；andhewouldbefreetoreturnthereandresumehisnormallifeasJimmieDaleagainifhecouldmaketheSanctuaryintime！ButlettheMagpiegettherefirst，lettheunderworldteartheplacetopiecesinitsfuryasitwoulddo，letthemdiscoverthathidingplaceundertheflooring，forinstance，andtheGraySealwouldnotbemerelyLarrytheBat，butJimmieDaleaswell，and——acryescapedhimevenasheran——itmeantruin，thedisgraceofanhonouredname，death，crimeswithoutnumberathisdoor。Crimes！TheGraySealhadnevercommittedacrime！ButthecrimesattributedtotheGraySealhecouldnotdisprove，notoneofthem！Hehadmeantthemtoappearascrimes——

andhehadsucceededsowellthattheGraySeal”sname，execrated，wasasynonymforthemostcallous，dangerous，andunscrupulouscriminaloftheage！

Hewasgaspingforbreathasfinally，makingforthesidedoor，hedartedintothealleywaythatflankedtheSanctuary。WhatstorywouldtheMagpietell？Notthetruth，ofcourse——thatwouldlettheMagpieinforwhathadhappenedthatnight，fortheMagpiemustbewellawarethathehadshotatleastoneofthetwomeninthatroom。Butthetruthwasn”tnecessary；itwasforeign，andhadnobearingontheoneoutstandingfact——theGraySealwasLarrytheBat。AtthepresentmomenttheMagpiehadadoubleincentivefor“getting“theGraySeal——theGraySealwastheonlyonewhocouldprovemurderagainsthimthatnightintheLaSallemansion。Andafterwards，whenthepoliceversionoftheaffairwasmadepublic，theMagpie，tosavehimself，wouldbecarefulenoughtodoorsaynothingtocontradict“HenryLaSalle”s“confession！

LarrytheBatslippedinthroughthedoor，haltedthere，listened；

andthenbegantomountthericketystairs，withhissilenttread。

Atthetophepausedagain。Nothing——nosound！Theywerenothereyet——sofarhewasintime！HesteppedtotheSanctuarydoor，unlockedit，passedintothesqualid，miserableroomthathadharbouredhimforsolongasLarrytheBat，lockedthedoorbehindhim，crossedquicklytothewindowtomakesurethattheshutterswereclosed——andthen，forthefirsttime，asthegraylightstreakedinthroughtheinterstices，hewasconsciousthatitwasalreadydawn。Somuchthemoreneedforhastethen！

Hewhippedouthisrevolverandlaiditathishandonthedilapidatedtable；thentheflooringinthecornerwasupinaninstant，andhebegantostripofftheragsofLarrytheBat。

Boots，mismatedsocks，thetorn，patchedtrousers，thegreasyflannelshirt，thethreadbarecoat，thenondescriptslouchhatwerethrowninapileonthefloor；andwiththem，fromtheirhiding-

place，thegreasepaintsandheterogeneouscollectionofmake-upaccessories。Thisdone，hebegantoslipontheclothesofJimmieDale；and，whenhalfdressed，turnedtothetableagaintoremovethecharacteristicgrime，stain，andpaintofLarrytheBatfromface，hands，wrists，throat，andneck。Thiswasalonger，morearduoustask。Hereachedforthecrackedpitchertopourmorewaterintothebasin——and，snatchinguphisrevolverinstead，whirledtofacethedoor。

Someonewasoutside！Hehadcaughtthecreakofafootstepuponthestairs。Inaflashhewasacrosstheroomandcrouchedbythedoor。Yes，thestepwasnearernow——attheheadofthestairs——onthelanding。Hisrevolverlifted，holdingasteadybeadonthedoorpanel。Andthentherecamealowvoice：

“Jimmie！Jimmie！Areyouthere？Quick，Jimmie！Areyouthere？“

TheTocsin！Whatwasshedoinghere！Whyhadhenotwarnedherupthereontheavenue，foolthathewas，thatofallplacesshewastokeepawayfromhere！

Sheslippedintotheroomasheunlockedthedoor。

“They”recoming，Jimmie！“shepantedbreathlessly。“There”snotaninstanttolose！Listen！WhentheMagpieranfromthehouse，Iranwithhim——butit“——shetriedtosmile”itwasn”ttoobeyyou，torunaway——IhadmadeupmymindIwouldn”tdothat——itwastofindoutfromhimwhathadhappened。HetoldmeyouweretheGraySeal。

Hedidnotsuspectme。HethinksyouwerenomorethanjustLarrytheBattome，asyouweretoeverybodyelse。HewentstraighttoChicagoIke”sgamblingroomsandfoundtheSkeeter”sgangthere——youknowthem，RedMose，theMidget，HarveThoms，andtheSkeeter——yourememberyourfightwiththemoveroldLuddy”sdiamonds！Well，theyhavenotforgotten，either！Theyareontheirwayhere，now！ThenewsthatyouaretheGraySealistravellinglikelightningallthroughtheunderworld——therewillbeamobhereontheSkeeter”sheels。So，Jimmie——quick！Run！“

Run！HalfLarrytheBat，halfJimmieDale——andrun！Inanotherfiveminutes，perhaps——yes。Butthereprobablywouldnotbefiveminutes——andshe——ifshewerefoundhere！

“Yes，“hesaidquietly。“I”llgetawayinamoment。Yougoatonce。I”ll“——hewassmilingatherreassuringly”I”llmeetyouat”

Shelookedathimthenforaninstant——interruptinghimquickly，assheshookherhead。

“Ididn”tnotice，Jimmie。Youcannotgolikethat——canyou？ItwouldbeevenworsethanbeingcaughtasLarrytheBat。Hurrythen——Iamnotgoingwithoutyou。”

“No！“hesaid。“Gonow！Goatonce，Marie——whileyoucan。Youhaveriskedyourlifeasitistocomehereandtellmethis。ForGod”ssake，gonow！“

Thegreat，browneyesweresmilingbravelythroughasuddenmist。

Sheshookherheadagain。

“Notwithoutyou，Jimmie。”

Itbroughtafierce，wildthrobofjoyuponhim——andthenacold，sickeningfear。

“Listen！“hecriedoutdesperately。“Youmustgonow！Youcannottakeanychancesnow，Marie。Everythingisrightforyou。Thatmanwhoposedasyouruncleisdead——theleaderoftheCrimeClubisdead。Don”tyouunderstandwhatthatmeans！YouhaveonlytobeMarieLaSalleagainandclaimyourown。Icannottellyouallnow——

there”snotime。ThathousewastheCrimeClubitself。Thepolicewillgetthemall。Don”tyousee！Don”tyousee！Everythingisclearforyounow——andnowgo！Go——youmustgo！“

Shewasstaringathim，astrangewonderinherface。

“Clear！Allclear——forme！I——Icangobackto——tomyownlifeagain！“Itwasasthoughshewerewhisperingsomeamazingthingofunbelievablejoytoherself。

“YES！“hecriedoutagain。“Yes！Butgo——go，Marie！“

Butnow，foranswer，suddenlyshereachedoutandtookthekeyfromthedoorandputitinthepocketofherdress。

“Wewillgotogether，Jimmie——ornotatall，“shesaidsimply。“Wearewastingpreciousmoments。Hurryanddress！“

Hehesitatedmiserably。Whatcouldhedo——ifsheWOULDnotgo！Anditwastrue——themomentswereflying。Better，ratherthanfutileargument，tousethemasshesaid。Therewasstillachance！Whynot！Fiveminutes！Hecoulddobetterthanthat！HeMUSTdobetterthanthat！

Withoutaword，heranbackacrosstheroom。Infrantichaste，fromface，hands，wrists，andneckcamethestain。Therewasstilltime。

Shewasstandingtherebythedoor，listening。She，theTocsin，shewhomheloved，shewho，allthroughtheyearsthathadgone，hadbeensostrangelyelusiveandyetsointimatelyapartofhislife，SHEwasstandingtherenow，herewithhim——inperilwitheverysecondthatpassed！

Hehadonlytosliponhiscoatandvestnow——andmakeabundleofLarrytheBat”sthingsonthefloor，sothathecouldcarrythemawaytodestroythem。Hestoopedtogatheruptheclothes——andstraightenedsuddenly——andjumpedtowardthedooragain。

“Theyarecoming，Jimmie！“shecalled，inalowvoice。Buthehadalreadyheardthem——thestairswerecreakingloudlyunderthetreadofmanyfeet。HepushedtheTocsinhurriedlybackagainstthewallatthesideofthedoor。

“Standthere！“hesaid，underhisbreath。“Outofthelineoffire！

Don”tmove！“

Therewasarushagainstthedoor——andthenavoicegrowled：

“Aw，cutdatout！Wotdoyousewanttodo——scarehimawaybybustin”it！Pickdelock，an”we”lllayforhiminsidetillheshowsup。”

ItwastheSkeeter”svoice。TheSkeeterandhisgang——theworstapachesinthecityofNewYork！Professionalassassins，deathcontractors，hehadcalledthem——andthelowestbidders！Aman”slifeanytimefortwenty-fivedollars！No，theywerenotlikelytoforgettheaffairofthepushcartman，toforgetoldLuddyandhisdiamonds，toforget——theGraySeal！Andtheywereonlythevanguardofwhatwastocome！

Someonewasworkingatthelocknow。Therewasonewaytostopthat。ItwouldnottakethemlongtofindoutthatheWASthereoncethedoorwasopened！BetterknowitwiththedoorSHUT！

JimmieDaleliftedhisrevolvercoollyandfiredthroughthepanel。

Aburstofyellsansweredtheshot；andamongthem，highabovetheothers，theMagpie”sscream：

“Wegothim！Wegothim！He”sderenow！“

Andthenitseemedthatpandemoniumbrokeloose——therewasavolleyofshots，thebulletssplinteringthroughthedoorpanelsasfromamachinegun，sofasttheycame——andthenanotherrushagainstthedoor。

Flatonthefloor，butwellbackandtooneside，JimmieDalefiredsteadily——againandagain。

Camescreamsofpain，yells，andoaths——andtheyfellbackfromthedoor。

Andnowfromabove，fromoverhead，cametumult——windowsthrownup，thestampoffeet，criesoffright。Andfromthestreet，alow，sullenroar。Theunderworldwasgatheringfast！

Oncemoretherushuponthedoor——andJimmieDale，agrim，twistedsmileuponhislips，emptiedhisrevolverintothepanels。Oncemoretheyfellback——andthentherecametheSkeeter”svoice，snarlinglikeaninfuriatedbeast：

“He”llgetdelotofuslikedis！Cutitout！Besides，we”llhavedebullsdownhereinaminute——an”he”sOURmeat，nottheirs。

Dey”dbetoodamnedsoftwidhim——dey”donlysendhimtodechair。

Yousechaseupstairs，Mose，an”passdewordtobeatit——an”beatitquick。We”llBURNdeskunkout——dat”swot。An”debullscanstandalongsidean”watch，ifdeylikes——buthe”sourmeat。”

JimmieDaledidnotdaretolookattheTocsin”sface。Mechanicallyherefilledthemagazineofhisautomatic——andlaythere，waiting。

Theroarfromthestreetgrewlouder。Theyseemedtobefightingoutthere，asthoughaninadequatenumberofpoliceweretryingtodisperseamob——andnotsucceeding！Prettysoon，withtheriotcallin，therewouldprobablybeabattle——fortheGraySeal！Sublimeirony！Itwasdeathatthehandsofeitherone！

Childrenwhimperedonthestairsoutside，menswore，womencried，feetshuffledhurriedlybyasthetenementemptied。Occasionally，apertinentinvitationtohimtoremainwherehewas，therewasaviciousripthroughthepanel，andthedrummingwhirofabulletflyingthroughtheroom。Andthenacurious，ominouscracklingsound——andthenthesmellofsmoke。

JimmieDalestoodup，hisfacedrawnandhaggard。Thetenementwouldgolikematchwood，burnlikeabonfire，withanykindofastart——andtherewasnodoubtaboutthestart！TheSkeeter，theMagpie，andtherestwouldhaveseenthatithadheadwayenoughtoservetheirpurposebeforeeitherfiremenorpolicecouldthwartthem。He，JimmieDale，couldtakehischoice：walkoutintoabullet，orstaythereand——hesmiledmiserablyashiseyesfelluponthepileofLarrytheBat”sclothingonthefloor。TherewasnolongerneedtoworryaboutITSdestruction——thefirewouldtakecareofthatonlytoowell！Andthenalow，bittercrycametohislips，andheclenchedhishands。Ifitwereonlyhimself——onlyhimself！

HecrossedtotheTocsinandcaughtherinhisarms。

“Oh，myGod——Marie！“hefaltered。

Thecapeandhoodhadfallenfromher，andwiththehoodhadfallenthegray-streakedhairofSilverMag——andnowasshesmiledathimitwasfromafacethatwasverybeautifulandverybraveandveryfulloftenderness。

Andheheldherthere——andneitherspoke。

Itseepedinunderthethresholdofthedoor，itcamefromeverywhere，fillingtheroom——theblack，stranglingsmoke。Outsideinthehallallwassilencenow——saveforthatcrackleofflamethatgrewinvolume，thatcamenowinquick，sharpreports，likerevolvershots。Fromoutinthestreetswelledacry：“DeathtotheGraySeal！“Thentheclangofbells，theroarandrattleoffireapparatus，stridentvoicesbellowingorders，andthecrowdagain，bloodhungry：“DeathtotheGraySeal！“

Therewasachance，justone——ifthefirehadnoheadwayalongtheupperendofthelanding——andiftheyhadnotthoughttosetawatchforhimABOVE！They——theMagpie，theSkeeter，andhisgang——musthavebeendrivenevenoutofthehousenowbythesmokeandflame。

“Givemethekey，Iamgoingtoopenthedoor，Marie，“hesaidquietly。“Coveryourfacewithahandkerchief，anything，andruntotheLEFTtothenextflightofstairs。Therearetwoflatsabovethis——we”llmaketheroofifwecan。Now——areyouready？“

Itwasaninstantbeforesheanswered，aninstantinwhichsheliftedherfacetohis，andheldhisfacebetweenhertwohands——andthen：

“Iamready，Jimmie。”

Heflungopenthedoor，hisarmaroundhertohelpherforward——andinstinctively，withacry，fellbackforamoment。Withtheinrushofthedraftpouredthesmoke，andthroughit，lurid，yellow，showedtheflamesleapingfromthestairwell。

Andthenallwasblindmadness。Togethertheyran。Atthefootofthestairsshefell，recoveredherself，staggeredupanother——andfellagain。Hecaughtherupinhisarmsand，staggeringnowasshehadstaggered，wenton。Hislungsseemedtobebursting。Hislimbsgrewweakandtrembledunderhim。Hecouldnotseeorbreathe。Thenauseatingfumessuffocatedhim，bringinganintolerableagony。Hegainedthefirstlandingabove。Therewasonemore——onemore！Ifhecouldonlyresthereforamoment！Yes，thatwasit——rest。Itwasn”tsobadherenow。Shestirredinhisarms，struggledtoherfeet——andhewashelpingheronagain，andupthenextflightofstairs。

Andsuddenlyhefoundhimselflaughinginhysteria——fortheywereclimbingahalfstair，halfladderwayattheendoftheupperlanding，andtheopenskylightwasabovethem，andtheyweredrinkinginthepure，freshair——andnowtheywereoutupontheroof，andtheroarfromthestreetwasintheirears，liketheroarofgreatwatersfromsomecanyonfarbelow。JimmieDaletriedtospeak，andfoundhislipswerecrackedanddry。Hewetthemwithhistongue。

“Don”tstandup——we”dbeseen——CRAWL，“hemumbledhoarsely。

Ittookalongtime——overoneroof，andthenanother，andyetanother——andthenthroughtheskylightofatenementwhoseoccupantswereeithercraningfromthefrontwindows，orwereonthestreetbelow。Itwas，perhaps，halfanhour——andthenthey，too，werestandinginthestreet，andallaboutthemthecrowdwasshoutinginwildexcitement。

Uptheblock，insidethefirelines，theSanctuarywasblazingfuriously——andnowsuddenlythewallseemedtobulgeoutward。Itbroughtayellfromthecrowd：

“DeathtotheGraySeal！“

Shepulledathisarm。

“Letusgetaway！Letusgetaway，Jimmie！“shewhisperedfrantically。

AstrangesmilewasonJimmieDale”slips。

“We”resafenow——foralways，“hewhisperedback。“Look！“

TheSanctuarywallbulgedfartheroutward，seemedtohanganinstanthesitantinmid-air——andfellwithamightycrash。

TheGraySealwasdead！