an for you. If you can give me an accurate
description of her, or let one of my men see her at your house or
office, accidentally, of course, I think we can tell you in no time
at all if they are meeting with any regularity. That's all you want to
know, is it--just that?"

"That's all," said Butler, solemnly.

"Well, that oughtn't to take any time at all, Mr. Butler--three or four
days possibly, if we have any luck--a week, ten days, two weeks. It
depends on how long you want us to shadow him in case there is no
evidence the first few days."

"I want to know, however long it takes," replied Butler, bitterly. "I
want to know, if it takes a month or two months or three to find out. I
want to know." The old man got up as he said this, very positive, very
rugged. "And don't send me men that haven't sinse--lots of it, plase. I
want men that are fathers, if you've got 'em--and that have sinse enough
to hold their tongues--not b'ys."

"I understand, Mr. Butler," Martinson replied. "Depend on it, you'll
have the best we have, and you can trust them. They'll be discreet. You
can depend on that. The way I'll do will be to assign just one man to
the case at first, some one you can see for yourself whether you like or
not. I'll not tell him anything. You can talk to him. If you like him,
tell him, and he'll do the rest. Then, if he needs any more help, he can
get it. What is your address?"

Butler gave it to him.

"And there'll be no talk about this?"

"None whatever--I assure you."

"And when'll he be comin' along?"

"To-morrow, if you wish. I have a man I could send to-night. He isn't
here now or I'd have him talk with you. I'll talk to him, though, and
make everything clear. You needn't worry about anything. Your daughter's
reputation will be safe in his hands."

"Thank you kindly," commented Butler, softening the least bit in a
gingerly way. "I'm much obliged to you. I'll take it as a great favor,
and pay you well."

"Never mind about that, Mr. Butler," replied Martinson. "You're welcome
to anything this concern can do for you at its ordinary rates."

He showed Butler to the door, and the old man went out. He was feeling
very depressed over this--very shabby. To think he should have to put
detectives on the track of his Aileen, his daughter!

Chapter XXXVI

The very next day there called at Butler's office a long,
preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity,
dark-haired, dark-eyed