Sir Donald is admitted. The chief warmly grasps him by the
hand, expresses pleasure at his call, and with enthusiasm says:

"After years' unavailing pursuit of the Laniers, there is now hope of
success.

"For months all trace of these villains had been lost, and our agency
was about to quit the job, when by chance a sure clew is found. For some
time both have been disguised in London. They occupy a basement room in
a suburb of the city. Recently this discovery was made. One of our men
was watching near a river boathouse for a burglar suspect who sometimes
frequented that locality. A rowboat is seen drifting down the Thames. In
the uncertain light it seems to have no occupant. As the boat nears, a
stooping form appears to waken from a sort of stupor. The boat is turned
toward the shore and fastened by a rope. The man walks rapidly down the
bank, followed by this spy. After a long chase, he is trailed to an old
stairway, down which the stranger disappears.

"This was three days previous to present time. Double shifts were set to
watch this basement entrance, resulting in seeing two men go out and in.
From their strange conduct it became evident that both were in disguised
hiding from some dreaded exposure, or were premeditating crime. The
older limps in his walk. He goes out only in daylight, soon returning to
their room. Nights are favored by the younger man, who acts very
strangely. During all next day after this discovery employes of our
agency watched that cellar entrance. The older man limped out toward
evening, and was followed to a stall, where he purchased a few eatables.
Soon after his return, the other passed out and moved rapidly away. He
was followed to the river-bank. Unfastening the same boat used on
previous evening, he rowed upstream. Our spy followed, keeping out of
view. Soon this trailer is surprised to see just ahead a form emerge
from clustering bushes, and watching the boatman, skulk along in same
direction. To avoid detection our spy moves more slowly, at times
waiting in shelter of bank shrubbery. In this way he is some distance
back down the stream from the boat. The rower frequently pauses at
points along banks of the river, and then moves on. Opposite a
projecting bank there is a long stop. Here the man stands up. He moves
back and forth across the river. The other watcher stands a little way
down the stream, intently looking. Through uncertain shadows the one in
rear dimly sees flash of a bl