somewhere," I instructed. "Get as
many in for manifold copies as you can make readable. The long form.
Worth--"

I looked around to find that my other amateur assistant was following my
advice, stowing his precious suitcase in the vault; and it struck me
that he couldn't have been more tickled with the find if the thing had
contained all the money and securities instead of that rope and hook. He
had made the latter into a separate package, and now looked up at me
with,

"Want this in here, too, Jerry?"

"I do. Lock them both up, and come take the telephone at the table
there. Press down Number One button. Then call every taxi stand in the
city (find their numbers at the back of the telephone directory) and ask
if they picked up Silent Steve at or near the Gold Nugget yesterday
afternoon about one; Steve Skeels--or any other man. If so, where'd they
take him? Get me?"

"All hunk, Jerry." He came briskly to the job. I returned to Miss
Wallace, with,

"Ready, Barbara?"

"Yes, Mr. Boyne."

"Take dictation:

"'We offer five hundred dollars--' You authorize that, Worth?"

"Sure. What's it for?"

"Never mind. You keep at your job. 'Five hundred dollars for the arrest
of Silent Steve Skeels--' Wait. Make that 'arrest or detention,' Got
it?"

"All right, Mr. Boyne."

--"'Skeels, gambler, who left San Francisco about one in the afternoon
yesterday March sixth. Presumed he went by train; maybe by auto. He is
man thirty-eight to forty; five feet seven or eight; weighs about one
hundred forty. Hair, light brown; eyes light blue--' Make it gray-blue,
Barbara."

Worth glanced up from where he was jotting down telephone numbers to
drawl,

"You know who you're describing there?"

"Yes--Steve Skeels."

I saw Miss Wallace give him a quick look, a little shake of her head, as
she said to me.

"Go on--please, Mr. Boyne."

"'Hair parted high, smoothed down; appears of slight build but is well
muscled. Neat dresser, quiet, usually wears blue serge suit, black derby
hat, black shoes.'"

"By Golly--you see it now yourself, don't you, Jerry?"

"I see that you're holding up work," I said impatiently. And now it was
the quiet girl who came in with.

"Who gave you this description of Steve Skeels? I mean, how many
people's observation of the man does this represent?"

"One. My own," I jerked out. "I know Skeels; have known him for years."

"Years? How many?" It was still the girl asking.

"Since 1907--or thereab