wever, brought
him around to the mood for another adventure. Sending for the racing
car he began the round-up of details. There was, first of all, Captain
Cronin to be visited in Bellevue. Here he was agreeably surprised to
find the detective chief recuperating with the abettance of his rugged
Celtic physique. The nurse told Shirley that another day's treatment
would allow the Captain to return to his own home: Shirley knew this
meant the executive office of the Holland Detective Agency.

"And sure, Monty, when I have a free foot once again, I'm going to apply
it to them gangsters who put me to sleep."

"Just what I want you to do, Captain! I 'phoned to your men this morning
while I had breakfast at the club: they have that taxicab which was left
near Van Cleft's house. It's put away safely, Cleary said. There are two
gangsters where the dogs won't bite them; today they are sending out to
Jim Merrivale's house to get the third and he'll be busy with a little
private third degree. I have no evidence which would connect the man
who tried to kill me last night with the other murders, except in a
circumstantial way. What I must do is to follow up the trail, and get
the gentleman carrying out the bales, in other words, with the goods on
him."

"You'll get him, Monty, if I know you. The fellow hasn't called up at
all on the telephone to-day. I think he's afraid of you."

"No, Captain Cronin, not that! He's up to some new game. Well, I'm
off--take care of yourself and don't eat anything the nurse doesn't
bring you with her own hands. I wouldn't put anything past this gang."

He shook hands and hurried out of the hospital, with several more
errands to complete. He looked vainly about him for the gray racing-car.
It was gone! Here was another unexpected interference with his work, and
Shirley, sotto voce, expressed himself more practically than politely.
He hurried to an ambulance driver who stood in a doorway, solacing his
jangled nerves with a corn-cob smoke.

"Neighbor, did you see any one take the gray car standing here a few
minutes ago?"

"Yep, a feller just came out of the hospital entry, cranked her and
jumped in."

"How long ago?"

"Well, I just returned with a suicide actor case five minutes ago."

"Then you might have seen him enter first?"

"Nope. Not a sign. All I seen was the way he cranked the machine, and
he didn't waste any elbow grease doin' it, either. He knew the trick.
That's what I thought whe