y on the
man.

"How often have I told you, Papa Marlowe, to keep your fat mouth shut?"

For Garth that outburst pitilessly defined the new element. Slim's anger
had let slip real evidence of the proprietor's lawless connection with
the gang; and Slim, Garth knew, was unlikely to make blunders he
couldn't retrieve. This one dovetailed into the fact that the detective
could still identify the four confederates he had seen down stairs--that
is, if he kept his eyes. Slim, then, had no intention of holding to his
bargain with Nora. He would use Garth as far as the border, then he
would protect his own through the unspeakable punishment his twisted
soul craved. Nor could Garth see any way to save himself. Moreover, he
knew Nora too well to cast lightly aside the promise she had drawn from
him on a note of command.

George emerged from the booth. The four men stared at each other without
words. Once or twice Marlowe started to speak, but at a frown from Slim
he smothered the impulse in a busy attention to his bar cloth.

Faintly the whirring of a motor reached them. George sprang for the
door. Slim motioned Garth ahead and followed him to the sidewalk where
an automobile had drawn up. It exposed, in the vague light, an air of
smug respectability in itself protective.

The driver wore a fur coat with a voluminous cape, of a common chauffeur
pattern. Its collar was turned up so that it completely hid the lower
part of the wearer's face. Garth didn't understand at first when Slim
took a smaller coat from the car, stooped, and whispered in the driver's
ear. The other stepped obediently to the sidewalk, removed his great
coat, handed it to Slim, and slipped on the smaller one. Slim motioned
George and Garth into the car, followed them, and, while he jerked out
his instructions, drew down the side curtains. Garth was to sit on the
back seat with George, who would keep one hand conveniently on his
automatic. Slim would be opposite, his gun handy, and the bottle of acid
ready at his side.

"And that isn't all," he leered. "You're too precious to take chances
with. Here! Lean forward."

He flung the chauffeur's great coat across Garth's shoulders, and, over
his chained wrists, buttoned it tight about him. He chuckled as the car
started.

"The cape, George, makes it look as if our friend kept his hands out of
sight for warmth. Let's hope the train'll be a little chilly, too. Your
arms are going to sleep and get a nice rest, Ga