not have
allowed him to cross to America. That is why I deserted you at East
Cape. I thought you were of the Secret Service, and would have the
Russian arrested as soon as his foot touched American soil. That is why
I said the offer of a reward for his arrest was a blunder. Don't you
see? We were to get them all."

"But the girl, Cio-Cio-San?" Johnny questioned.

"She is not of the secret police. She helps me as a friend, that's all,
and I will help her if I can."

Johnny wished to question him regarding the treasure, but something held
him back.

"So you see how it is." Hanada spoke wearily. "We have gone so far, so
very far. Mebbe to-morrow, mebbe next day, we would have uncovered their
lair; but to-night the police are on my trail, for 'treason' they call
it. Bah! It was a dream, a great and wonderful dream; a dream that would
mean much for your country and mine." His words were full of mystery.
"But now they will arrest me, and you must carry on the hunt for the
Russian and his band. This other thing, it can wait. It will come,
sometime, but not now."

"What other?" asked Johnny.

Hanada did not answer.

There came the stealthy shuffle of feet in the corridor.

"They are coming," whispered Hanada. "Remember my testimony will free
you, but you must not stop; you must hunt as never before, you must get
that man!"

There came, not the expected tattoo of police billies on the door, but a
shrill whisper through the key-hole:

"Johnny," the voice said, "are you there? Let me in. I seen it! I seen
it! I get the century note you promised me! Let me in!"

* * * * *

When Mazie entered the taxi with the man who was an entire stranger to
her she did it on the impulse of the moment. The swift sequence of
events had carried her off her feet. First, she had been startled into
the hope that Johnny still lived; then she had been assured by the
police sergeant that he could not possibly be living, only to be told a
moment later by this stranger that he was still alive.

Once she had settled back against the cushions and felt the jolt of the
taxi over the car tracks, she began to have misgivings. Was this a trap?
Had she better call to the driver and demand to be allowed to alight? A
glance at her fellow traveler tended to reassure her. He was
undoubtedly a foreigner, but was an honest-looking fellow and neatly
dressed.

As the cab lurched into a side street toward the river, she agai