ights; this switch throws them all off, doesn't it?" He pressed a
button on the left of the door, and the electric lights in the walls and
under a green shade on the library table faded and disappeared, leaving
the room, save for the light from the hall, in darkness.

"That's the way we want it," said the showman.

From the hall Mannie appeared between the curtains that hung across the
doorway. "What are you doing with the lights?" he demanded. "You want to
break my neck? All our people are downstairs," he announced.

Vance turned on the lights. At the same moment Rainey came from the
bedroom into the library. It was evident that to sustain his courage
he had been drinking. He made no effort to greet those in the room, but
stood, glaring resentfully at the cabinet and the row of chairs.

"Well," exclaimed Vance cheerfully, "if our folks are all here, we're
all right."

Glancing behind him, Mannie took Vance by the sleeve, and led him to the
centre of the room.

"No, we're not all right," said the boy, "that Miss Coates has brought
a friend with her. She says Hallowell told her she could bring a friend.
She says this young fellow is her friend. I think he's a Pink!"

"What nonsense," exclaimed Gaylor in alarm. "No detective would force
his way into this house."

"She says," continued Mannie, disregarding Gaylor, and still addressing
Vance, "he's a seeker after the Truth. I'll bet," declared the boy
violently, "he's a seeker after the truth!"

Garrett came hastily and noiselessly into the room. He nodded toward
Mannie.

"Has he told you?" he asked.

"Yes," Gaylor answered, "who is he?"

"The reporter who was here this morning," Garrett returned. "The one who
threatened--"

"That'll do," commanded Gaylor. In the face of this new complication he
again became himself. Suavely and politely he turned to Vance. "Will you
and your friend join Miss Vera," he asked, "and tell her that we begin
in a few minutes?"

For the first time, aggressively and offensively Rainey broke his
silence.

"No, we won't begin in a few minutes," he announced, "not by a damned
sight!"

The explosion was so unexpected that, for an instant, while the eyes
of all were fixed in astonishment upon the speaker, there was complete
silence. Gaylor, still suave, still polite, looked toward Vance, and
motioned him to the door.

"Will you kindly do as I ask?" he said. With Mannie at his side, Vance
walked quickly from the room. Once in the