ry."

If Braceway could have read that, he would have said: "Wait until we get
to Washington. That's where we'll come across the jewels. Give us time."

Bristow, having a different opinion, would have refused to divulge it.
The last thing he expected, was any such result in Washington.

CHAPTER XIX

AT THE ANDERSON NATIONAL BANK

When the train pulled into Washington at eleven o'clock, Henry Morley,
the first passenger to alight, shook off the red-cap porters who grabbed
at his grips, and hurried toward the gates. Braceway, well hidden by
shadows just inside the big side-door of one of the baggage coaches,
observed how pale and haggard he looked under the strong glare of the
arc-lights.

"Hardly more than a kid!" thought the detective, with involuntary
sympathy. "Why is it that most of the criminals are merely children? If
they were all hardened and abandoned old thugs this work would be
easier."

Nevertheless, he kept his eyes on Morley and, a moment later, moved a
step forward. This made him visible to a well-dressed, sleek-looking man
who up to that time had been standing on the dark side of the great steel
pillar directly across the platform from the baggage car. Braceway, with
a quick gesture, indicated the identity of Morley, and the sleek-looking
man, suddenly coming to life, fell into the stream of street-bound
passengers.

Braceway went back to the Pullman and rejoined Bristow, who was waiting
for him in the stateroom.

In the taxicab on their way to the Willard Hotel, the lame man lay back
against the cushion, apparently tired out and making no pretense of
interest in anything. Braceway muttered something inaudible.

"What's that?" Bristow asked, opening his eyes.

"I'd been thinking what a pity it is that most criminals are youngsters.
When you nab them, you feel as if they hadn't a fair show; it hardly
seems a sporting proposition. After that, I soothed myself by considering
the satisfaction one feels in landing the old birds, the ones who know
better."

"I can appreciate that," the other agreed. "That may be one reason why
I'm glad I've fastened the thing on an ignorant negro rather than on a
fellow like Morley."

"You've too much confidence in circumstantial evidence, Bristow. I
remember what an old lawyer once told me: 'Circumstantial evidence is
like a woman, too tricky--and tells a different story every day.'"

At the Willard, finding that adjoining rooms were not to be had, th