e you know more of that side of police strategy than I gave
you credit for."

"Then have the men drop into my laboratory singly about the same time.
You can arrange that so that it will not look suspicious, so far uptown.
It will be dark, anyhow. Perhaps, O'Connor, you can make up as the
driver yourself--anyhow, get one you can trust absolutely. Then have
the van down near the corner of Broadway below the club, driving slowly
along about the time the theatre crowd is out. Leave the rest to me. I
will give you or the driver orders when the time comes."

As O'Connor thanked Craig, he remarked without a shade of insincerity,
"Kennedy, talk about being commissioner, you ought to be commissioner."

"Wait till I deliver the goods," answered Craig simply. "I may fall down
and bring you nothing but a lawsuit for damages for unlawful entry or
unjust persecution, or whatever they call it."

"I'll take a chance at that," called back O'Connor as he jumped into his
car and directed, "Headquarters, quick."

As the car disappeared, Kennedy filled his lungs with air as if
reluctant to leave the drive. "Our constitutional," he remarked, "is
abruptly at an end, Walter."

Then he laughed, as he looked about him.

"What a place in which to plot a raid on Danfield's Vesper Club! Why,
the nurse-maids have hardly got the children all in for supper and bed.
It's incongruous. Well, I must go over to the laboratory and get some
things ready to put in that van with the men. Meet me about half-past
seven, Walter, up in the room, all togged up. We'll dine at the Cafe
Riviera to-night in style. And, by the way, you're quite a man about
town--you must know someone who can introduce us into the Vesper Club."

"But, Craig," I demurred, "if there is any rough work as a result, it
might queer me with them. They might object to being used--"

"Oh, that will be all right. I just want to look the place over and
lose a few chips in a good cause. No, it won't queer any of your Star
connections. We'll be on the outside when the time comes for anything to
happen. In fact I shouldn't wonder if your story would make you all the
more solid with the sports. I take all the responsibility; you can have
the glory. You know they like to hear the inside gossip of such things,
after the event. Try it. Remember, at seven-thirty. We'll be a little
late at dinner, but never mind; it will be early enough for the club."

Left to my own devices I determined to do a l