ift," the fellow stammered, "this--this is outrageous!"

"Perhaps," agreed I, carelessly, surveying him with a narrowed look.
"I 'm not here to excuse police methods; they 're not very gentle, I
'll admit; but when we deal with crooks we 're obliged to hand them the
only treatment they 're amenable to.

"Burke, you can't excite one bit of pity or sympathy in me for you, for
I know you to be a cold-blooded, treacherous scoundrel, and whatever
you have coming to you is only what you deserve. I 'm fixed to put you
through as a principal in the murder of Page--sit down!" I thundered at
him, for he had started to rise from his seat. He dropped back limply.
"You wait till I 'm through. Your chance is coming in just about a
minute. I promise not to interrupt--as long as you tell a
straightforward story.

"As I said," I went on, "I 'm prepared to put you through as one of the
principals; the bare fact of your arrest should be enough to convince
you of my readiness.

"However, while I have n't any desire to spare you, we are in the habit
of trading leniency to a rascal who is willing to turn State's
evidence. It's a plain business proposition."

I imagined that he perked up a bit at this.

"Ah, then you are not so sure," he seemed to muse; "you would have me
convict myself for your precious benefit."

"Maybe you can judge better before I have finished," returned I,
unmoved. "You need not tell me anything about yourself, but I do need
a few facts to complete my case against the others who were involved in
this crime. It's up to you."

I retreated a step, folded my arms, and stood watching him--and
waiting. I knew that he could n't tell the truth without filling in
the gaps in his own case. I never am deterred by any compunction over
the methods I am sometimes obliged to use to make an individual, whom I
know deserves no consideration, speak. With a knave like Burke I would
as lief resort to thumb-screws, the boot, the rack, or even to choking
the words from him, as to trust to persuasion alone. To tell the
truth, my preference lies with the means first enumerated: they are
much more prompt and direct. The worst indictment that one may bring
against the old-time torture is that it was not applied with judgment
and discrimination, nor always confined to legitimate ends. I fear
that I shock you. But I am not by any means a cruel, blood-thirsty
person. I merely speak from long years of experience. Whenever I