spicion himself that distrust of himself in others
was peculiarly painful.

He and Bassett were in conference one afternoon when Furniss came in.

"I've got a tip," he said directly to Bassett, pointedly ignoring Good.
"Maybe a story."

"Shoot," said Bassett, moving his cigar to the other side of his mouth,
which was his method of indicating interest.

"The railroads have brought their scrap on the constitutionality of the
liability law up to the appellate court. Hennessy of the B. & F. got
drunk down state the other night and shot off his face about what was
going to happen. He said more than he meant to."

"Well." The cigar went back to its former corner. That signified as near
excitement as Bassett ever got.

"According to him they've gotten one of the court, and they're going to
get another--up here."

"Yes." Bassett's cigar was only half its former length and disappearing
rapidly.

"Hennessy's in town to-day. So's Harper of the M. T., Lloyd, of the
Western, and several others."

"Go on." Bassett had begun on a fresh cigar.

"They're all hanging out at the Wellesley--room 416. If anything stirs,
it ought to be there."

"Yes."

"I sized up the place this morning when nobody was there. Also I hired
the next room to it. There's a doorway that commands the whole room. It
struck me that if we could put a camera covering 416, by way of that
doorway, and have another fellow watching through a hole in the wall,
the minute they start anything, we'd yank open the door and touch off
the flash. I guess we'd have something, what?"

"You're not without brains, Furniss," said Bassett unemotionally.

"Thanks," said Furniss in a similar tone. Neither tone expressed the
feelings of its owner.

Bassett never wasted time in praise or blame--until after the matter was
concluded. Then he excelled in either capacity. But the present moment
called for action, not words.

"You and Good with Sato for the pictures ought to cover it," he said
crisply. A curious expression twisted Furniss' lips. It was not a smile.
It might rather be called a premonition of one.

"If they pull off anything it'll be to-night," he said, as Bassett
turned back from his insistent telephone. "Both Hennessy and Lloyd I
happen to know are going South to-morrow."

"I'll save the first column for you," said Bassett with as near a
chuckle as he ever permitted himself.

"It'll break early, if at all," said Furniss. Then he turned insolently
to Go