ad been
an envied host; to-day I was an outcast.

As I stood there, a shadow darkened the doorway and with a leap of
the heart I jumped behind a portiere. Then, as the shadow remained
and knowing that in any event I was trapped, I threw open the door.
Gottlieb, with wild eyes peering out of a haggard face, stood before
me. Without a moment's hesitation, he dodged inside.

"Did you get it?" he almost shrieked.

"Yes," I answered faintly. "What are we to do?"

"For God's sake give me something to drink!" he cried. "I need it!"

I led him to the sideboard and filled two glasses with whiskey.

"Here's to crime!" I muttered, with a bitter laugh.

Gottlieb shot a fierce look at me and his hand shook so that I
thought he would drop the tumbler; but he poured the liquor down
his throat and threw himself into a chair.

"That fellow has us by the throat!" he groaned.

"We should have thought of that--" I began.

"Stop!" he gasped. "You can hold a post-mortem later on. They
haven't got us yet--and, by God! we've a long start. Once let us
whip Hawkins out of the way and they're helpless! I must stay here
to fight the case, but you, Quib, must take this fellow where
they'll never find him--Africa, Alaska, Europe--anywhere! If you
could drop him over a precipice or off an ocean liner--so much the
better!"

For an instant we eyed each other keenly. Then I shook my head.

"No," said I. "If it came to that I'd rather go to jail."

It was now nearly seven o'clock and I felt faint for something to
eat; so I stumbled upstairs and awakened my butler, who stared at
me stupidly when he saw me beside his bed in evening dress. When
I rejoined Gottlieb I found him examining the morning paper, which
a boy had just brought to the front door. Across the front page
in double-leaded type was printed:

THE DILLINGHAM DIVORCE AGAIN

Arthur P. Hawkins Indicted for Perjury

Extraordinary Disclosures Expected

Two Prominent Criminal Attorneys Said to be Involved

"They've raised the hue and cry already!" muttered my partner,
pointing to the paper. "Damn them! How ready they are to turn on
a man! Think of all the stories I've given to these very papers!
Stories worth thousands of dollars to 'em! And now--they're after
our hearts' blood!"

While we were waiting for our breakfast he outlined his plan. We
were to get Hawkins out of town as soon as we had given bail for
him. Of course the railroads and ferries would