ut to-day in San Francisco?"

"No."

"Oh, it was the Brundage clew that took you south?"

"Yep. Left Louie on the job at the hotel while I was away. To-day, I
went after Brundage's automobile. Found he'd kept one in a garage on
Jackson Street."

"It's gone, of course--and no trace," Barbara murmured.

"Gone since the day of the bank theft," Worth nodded. "He and the money
went in it."

"Say," I leaned over toward him, "wouldn't it have saved wear and tear
if you'd told me at the first that you knew Skeels couldn't be Clayte?"

"Oh, but, Jerry, you were so sure! And Skeels wasn't possible for a
minute--never in his little, piking, tin-horn life!"

I don't believe I had seen Worth so happy since he was a boy, playing
detective. I glanced around and pulled myself up; we certainly weren't
making ourselves very entertaining for the Vandemans. There they sat, at
their own table, like handsome figureheads, smiling politely, pretending
a decent interest.

"All this must be a bore to you people," I apologized.

"Not at all--not at all," Vandeman assured us.

"Well then if you don't mind--Worth, I'll go and use Vandeman's
phone--put my office wise to these Brundage clews of yours."

Worth nodded. No social scruples were his. I had by no means given up
the belief that Skeels in jail at Tiajuana, would still turn out to be
one of the gang.

I had just got back to the table from my phoning when the doorbell rang;
we saw the big Chinese slip noiselessly through the rear into the hall
to answer it, coming back a moment later, announcing in his weighty,
correct English,

"Two gentlemen calling--to see Captain Gilbert."

"Ask for me?" Worth came to his feet in surprise. "Who told them I was
here?"

"I do not know," the Chinaman spoke unnecessarily as Worth was crossing
to the door. "I did not ask them that."

"Use the living room, Worth," Vandeman called after him. "We'll wait
here."

With the closing of the door, conversation languished. Even Skeet was
quiet and seemed depressed. My ears were straining for any sound from in
there. As I sat, hand dropped at my side, I suddenly felt under shelter
of the screening tablecloth, cold, nervous fingers slipped into mine.
Barbara wasn't looking at me, but I gave her a quick glance as I pressed
her gripping small hand encouragingly.

She was turned toward Vandeman. Pale to the lips, her great eyes fixed
on the eyes of our host, I saw with wonder how he slowly stirred a s