ndly Society we heard
about last night?"

"That'll be the Wrychester Second Friendly," answered Mitchington.
"There are two such societies in the town--the first's patronized by
small tradesmen and the like; the second by workingmen. The second does
take deposits from its members. The office is in Fladgate--secretary's
name outside--Mr. Stebbing. What are you after?"

"Tell you later," said Jettison. "Just an idea."

He went leisurely out and across the market square and into the narrow,
old-world street called Fladgate, along which he strolled as if doing no
more than looking about him until he came to an ancient shop which had
been converted into an office, and had a wire blind over the lower
half of its front window, wherein was woven in conspicuous gilt letters
Wrychester Second Friendly Society--George Stebbing, Secretary. Nothing
betokened romance or mystery in that essentially humble place, but it
was in Jettison's mind that when he crossed its threshold he was on his
way to discovering something that would possibly clear up the problem on
which he was engaged.

The staff of the Second Friendly was inconsiderable in numbers--an
outer office harboured a small boy and a tall young man; an inner one
accommodated Mr. Stebbing, also a young man, sandy-haired and freckled,
who, having inspected Detective-Sergeant Jettison's professional card,
gave him the best chair in the room and stared at him with a mingling of
awe and curiosity which plainly showed that he had never entertained
a detective before. And as if to show his visitor that he realized the
seriousness of the occasion, he nodded meaningly at his door.

"All safe, here, sir!" he whispered. "Well fitting doors in these old
houses--knew how to make 'em in those days. No chance of being overheard
here--what can I do for you, sir?"

"Thank you--much obliged to you," said Jettison. "No objection to my
pipe, I suppose? Just so. Ah!--well, between you and me, Mr. Stebbing,
I'm down here in connection with that Collishaw case--you know."

"I know, sir--poor fellow!" said the secretary. "Cruel thing, sir, if
the man was put an end to. One of our members, was Collishaw, sir."

"So I understand," remarked Jettison. "That's what I've come about. Bit
of information, on the quiet, eh? Strictly between our two selves--for
the present."

Stebbing nodded and winked, as if he had been doing business with
detectives all his life. "To be sure, sir, to be sure!" he resp