brooch in another. And then, of course, the
necklace."

Ashton-Kirk examined the entries and made some memoranda in a small
book; then he began asking some questions in a voice so low that Scanlon
caught only a word here and there. He recognized "woman," also "veil,"
and in another place "this afternoon." It were as though Ashton-Kirk
were urging the man to accompany him somewhere, which Quigley seemed
loth to do. Then the investigator took something from his pocket and
showed it to the other. Bat caught a flash of it; it was a
photograph--of Nora Cavanaugh, and the broker was now nodding his head
eagerly as he gazed at it.

"They're going to Nora's," was what flashed through Bat's brain. "This
hound of a pawn-broker'll try and put something on her whether it's true
or not." His mind seethed with this for a moment, and then came another
idea. "But they'll not take her by surprise; I'll get there before them,
and tell her."

And silently Mr. Scanlon slipped through the hall door and was gone.

CHAPTER XXV

NORA TALKS AND SCANLON LISTENS

As Bat Scanlon stepped out of the street car which took him to Nora
Cavanaugh's house, he looked at his watch. It was almost midnight.

"She'll have had time to get home," he said to himself, "but maybe it'll
be too late to see her."

But he set his jaw at this thought, and shook his head with a bull-like
motion. He sprang up the steps and pulled at the bell viciously. To his
surprise the door opened at once, and he saw Nora in her coat and furs,
a veil over her face, standing in the hall.

"Bat!" she said, and stood staring at him.

"Just come in?" he asked.

"No," was the answer. "I--I----"

"Just going out, then. I see."

There was something in his manner and tone which caused her to look at
him steadily. Then with a little gesture she said:

"Will you come in?"

He entered and she closed the door; as he stood there turning his hat
about in his hands, he looked very big and stubborn--and, if you
understood him very well, as Nora did--very much afraid.

"It is late," she said. "Is anything wrong?"

"There will be," said Bat "There will be unless something is done to
head it off."

Without a word she led the way into a room at one side; and after they
had sat down, she asked:

"And now, what is it?"

"I've just been with Ashton-Kirk to see a man of the name of Quigley--a
sort of pawnbroker." His eyes were upon her, but she continued to regard
him ste