atches free, yanked the thing open, reversed it in air--and out
fell a coiled rope that curved itself like a snake--a three-headed
snake; the triple grappling iron at its end standing up as though to
hiss.

We all stood staring; I was too stunned to be triumphant. What a pat
confirmation of Miss Wallace's deductions! I turned to congratulate her
and at the same instant Worth cried,

"What's the matter, Bobs?" for the girl was sitting, staring dejectedly,
her chin cupped in her palms, her lips quivering. Nonplussed, I stooped
over the suitcase and rope, coiling up the one, putting it in the
other--this first bit of tangible, palpable evidence we'd lighted on.

"Let's get out of this," I said quickly. "We've done all we can
here--and good and plenty it is, too."

Worth took the suitcase out of my hands and carried it, so that I had to
help Miss Wallace down the ladder. She still looked as though she'd lost
her last friend. I couldn't make her out. Never a word from her while we
were getting down, or while they waited and I shouted for Louie. It was
in the elevator, with the porter looking at everything on earth but this
suitcase we hadn't brought in and we were taking out, that she said,
hardly above her breath,

"Shall you ask at the desk if this ever belonged to any one in the
house?"

"Find out here--right now," and I turned to the man in overalls with,
"How about it?"

"Not that your answer will make any difference," Worth cut in joyously.
"Nobody need get the idea that they can take this suitcase away from
me--'cause they can't. It's mine. I paid eight hundred thousand dollars
for this box; and I've got a use for it." He chuckled. Louie regarded
him with uncomprehending toleration--queer doings were the order of the
day at the Gold Nugget--and allowed negligently.

"You'll get to keep it. It don't belong here." Then, as a coin changed
hands, "Thank _you_."

"But didn't it ever belong here?" our girl persisted forlornly, and when
Louie failed her, jingling Worth's tip in his calloused palm, she wanted
the women asked, and we had a frowsy chambermaid called who denied any
acquaintance with our sole leather discovery, insisting, upon definite
inquiry, that she had never seen it in Skeels' room, or any other room
of her domain. Little Miss Wallace sighed and dropped the subject.

As we stepped out of the elevator, I behind the others, Kite caught my
attention with a low whistle, and in response to a furtive,