way to attend to business. Do you expect me to go down in
my pocket and hand you the goods on a silver tray?"

"Keep your hands up! You don't woik dat game on me. You got a gun
there."

"No, I haven't. This is on the level. You over-looked a roll of bills
in your haste and I'm not the sort of fellow to see an earnest
endeavorer get the worst of it. My hands are up. See for yourself if
I'm not telling you the truth."

"What kind of game is dis?" growled Bill, dazed and bewildered. "I'm
blowed if I know w'at to t'ink o' you," cried he in honest amazement.
"You don't act drunk, and you ain't crazy, but there's somethin' wrong
wid you. Are you givin' it to us straight about de wad?"

"You can find out easily."

"Well, I hate to do it, boss, but I guess we'll just take de overcoat
and all. It looks like a trick and we takes no chances. Off wid de
coat."

Monty's coat came off in a jiffy and he stood shivering before the
dumfounded robbers.

"We'll leave de coat at de next corner, pardner. It's cold and you need
it more'n we do. You're de limit, you are. So long. Walk right straight
ahead and don't yell."

Brewster found his coat a few minutes later, and went whistling away
into the night. The roll of bills was gone.

CHAPTER XII

CHRISTMAS DESPAIR

Brewster made a good story of the "hold-up" at the club, but he did not
relate all the details. One of the listeners was a new public
commissioner who was aggressive in his efforts at reform. Accordingly
Brewster was summoned to headquarters the next morning for the purpose
of looking over the "suspects" that had been brought in. Almost the
first man that he espied was a rough-looking fellow whose identity
could not be mistaken. It was Bill.

"Hello, Bill," called Monty, gaily. Bill ground his teeth for a second,
but his eyes had such an appeal in them that Monty relented.

"You know this fellow, Mr. Brewster?" demanded the captain, quickly.
Bill looked utterly helpless.

"Know Bill?" questioned Monty in surprise. "Of course I do, Captain."

"He was picked up late last night and detained, because he would give
no account of his actions."

"Was it as bad as that, Bill?" asked Brewster, with a smile. Bill
mumbled something and assumed a look of defiance. Monty's attitude
puzzled him sorely. He hardly breathed for an instant, and gulped
perceptibly.

"Pass Bill, Captain. He was with me last night just before my money was
taken, and he couldn't possibl