curiously.

"No more than you. I hit them with something hard, so it would leave a
mark."

"You left one, I'll say. Thesel will lose that eye--it's gone now--and
Swann is also disfigured for life. What a damned shame!"

"Chief, are you sure it's any kind of a shame?"

Lane's query appeared to provoke thought. Bell replaced the little
automatic pistol he had picked up beside Swann, and rising he looked
at Lane.

"Swann was a slacker. Thesel was your Captain in the war. Have these
facts anything to do with your motive?"

"No, Chief," replied Lane, in sarcasm. "But when I got into action I
think the facts you mentioned sort of rejuvenated a disabled soldier."

"Lane, you beat me," declared Bell, shaking his head. "Why, I had you
figured as a pretty good chap.... But you've done some queer things in
Middleville."

"Chief, if you're an honest officer you'll admit Middleville needs
some queer things done."

Bell gazed doubtfully at Lane.

"Smith, search the rooms," he ordered, addressing his patrolman.

"We were alone here," spoke up Lane. "And I advise you to hurry those
wounded veterans to a hospital in the rear."

Swann showed signs of recovering consciousness. Bell bent over him a
moment. Lane had only one hope--that the patrolman would miss the
door. But he brushed aside the curtain. Then he grunted.

"See here, Chief--a door--and somebody's holding it from the inside,"
he declared.

"Wait, Smith," ordered Bell, striding forward. But before he got
half-way across the room the door opened. A girl stepped out and shut
it back of her. Lane sustained a singular shock. That girl was Bessy
Bell.

"Hello, Dad--it's Bessy," she said, clearly. She was pale, but did not
seem frightened.

Chief Bell halted in the middle of a stride and staggered a little as
his foot came down. A low curse of utter amaze escaped his lips.
Suddenly he became tensely animated.

"How'd you come here?" he demanded, towering over her.

"I walked."

"What'd you come for?"

"To warn Daren Lane that you were going to raid these club-rooms
to-night."

"Who told you?"

"I won't tell. I got it over the 'phone. I ran over here. I knew
where the key was. I've been here before--afternoons--dancing.... I
let myself in.... But when they--they came I got frightened and hid in
the closet."

Chief Bell seemed about to give way to passion, but he controlled it.
After that moment he changed subtly.

"Is Daren Lane your friend?" he dem