him and
Richard when they emerged from the drain, and giving him a pasteboard
from his case, he continued: "Mr. Duff, present my card to the Chief of
the Secret Service, and tell him with my compliments that he and what
men lie handy to his call are wanted at this drain. Should he be a bit
slow, say that a big slice of the gold reserve has fallen into the
drain, and the situation doesn't do him credit. You, Mr. England, will
remain on guard until the Secret Service people get here. London Bill
might regain confidence, and come back for a sack of that gold."

"Where now?" asked Richard as Inspector Val, taking him by the arm, bent
his steps towards the center of town.

"Grant Place," replied Inspector Val. "And on that point, if I may
advise you, I'd not go to Grant Place; one of us will be enough. You'd
see something disagreeable; besides, this killing may get into the
coroner's office, and from there into the courts and the newspapers.
Considering that you are to be married in a few days, I should say that
you don't want to have your name mixed up with it. No, the wise thing is
for me to go alone."

"It's the question of publicity," responded Richard, "that I was
revolving in my mind. Here's this bald attempt to rob the Treasury----"

"It was magnificent!" interjected Inspector Val, unable to restrain his
tribute.

"And if your surmise be correct," continued Richard, disregarding the
interruption, "now come the deaths of Storri and the woman San Reve to
cap the robbery. What, may I ask, do you call your duty in the
premises?"

"Duty?" repeated Inspector Val. "I've no duty; that is, no official
duty. Washington is off my beat. My course, however, must depend upon
circumstances. As far as I may, I shall smother every mention of
to-night's work. If the papers get hold of one end of it, and begin to
haul it ashore, they will bring in yourself and Mr. Harley and Senator
Hanway in a manner not desired at this time. Besides, the Secret Service
people, goaded by publicity, might pinch Steamboat Dan and his gang. Now
I'm not going to lose my best stool pigeon to please these somnambulists
of the Secret Service. Also, I've given my promise to Dan, and I never
break my word."

"I'm quite anxious, as you may imagine," said Richard, "to bury what
we've seen and heard to-night. But how can it be done? You've sent word
to the Secret Service Chief."

"The men of the Secret Service will never mention the business unless
they