is face bore a somewhat frigid welcome, when almost immediately the
manager of the Searchlight Investigation Bureau presented himself.

Mr. Hagan had the appearance of one into whose lap the horn of plenty
has not been recently or generously tilted, and the clothes he wore,
though sprucely tailored, were of another season's fashion.

But his manner had lost none of its pristine assurance and he began his
interview by laying a hand on the door-knob and suggesting: "The
business I want to take up with you, Mr. Tollman, had best be discussed
out of hearing of others."

Tollman remained unhospitably rigid and his eyes narrowed into an
immediate hostility.

"Whatever business we may have had, Mr. Hagan," he suggested, "has for
some time been concluded, I think."

But on this point the visitor seemed to hold a variant opinion.
Momentarily his face abandoned its suavity and the lower jaw thrust
itself forward with a marked hint of belligerency.

"So?" he questioned. "Nonetheless there is business that can be done at
the present time in this house. It's for you to say whether I do it with
you--or others."

Tollman's scowl deepened and the thought presented itself that he had
been unwise in ever giving such a dishonest fellow the hold upon him of
a prior employment. But he controlled himself and invited curtly, "Very
well. Sit down."

Mr. Hagan did so, and this time it was Mr. Tollman himself who somewhat
hastily closed and latched the door which protected their privacy of
interview, while the guest broached his topic.

"The best way to start is with the recital of a brief story. You may
already have read some of it in the newspapers but the portion that
concerns us most directly wasn't published. It's what is technically
called the 'inside story.'"

"The best way to start, Mr. Hagan," amended Tollman with some severity
of manner, "is that which will most quickly bring you to the point and
the conclusion. I'm a very busy man and can spare you only a short
time."

But despite that warning the detective sat for a moment with his legs
crossed and gave his attention to the deliberate kindling of a cigar.
That rite being accomplished to his satisfaction, he settled back and
sent a cloud of wreathed smoke toward the ceiling before he picked up
again his thread of conversation.

CHAPTER XXVII

Even when he had comfortably settled himself Mr. Hagan's initial comment
was irrelevant.

"Your place is decidedly ch