of it," he said. "It's too dangerous to suit me. No,
Victor, there, is different. He likes the spice of danger, and so may
you. But I prefer to get my gold easier, in the streets."

Jean shrugged his shoulders in contempt.

"I thought you were a brave man," he said. "Come on, Victor; we have no
time for cowards."

He took Chester by the arm and the two walked off down the street, while
Hal again concealed himself in the dark alley opposite the Apaches' den,
where he waited for Duval to emerge.

His patience was soon rewarded. A dim figure appeared in the doorway and
peered cautiously about. Then it slipped quietly to the street and strode
rapidly away in the darkness. Hal slipped from his concealment and,
keeping a respectable distance behind, set out in pursuit. For several
blocks Duval continued slowly; then stopped suddenly at a corner. Hal
immediately slunk from sight into the shelter of a doorway.

Duval raised a hand, and a moment later a taxi dashed up and stopped
before him. Duval climbed in and the taxi moved away.

Hal, however, was not to be shaken off thus easily. Running forward
quickly he succeeded in catching hold of the taxi and pulling himself up
behind. In this way he rode for perhaps half an hour.

Abruptly the machine came to a halt and Hal quickly jumped to the ground
and into a doorway, where he peered forth in time to see Duval alight.

The man was now without a mask, and Hal perceived the clear countenance
of a Frenchman of the upper class, whose age must have been somewhere in
the thirties. He strode rapidly down the street, and, turning a corner,
mounted the steps of a handsome residence just beyond. Hal came around
the corner just in time to see his quarry enter the door.

The lad took the number of the house and also the name of the street.
These he impressed firmly upon his memory by repeating them over and
over. Then he quietly ascended the steps of the house and tried the door.
It was locked.

The lad descended the steps again and walked round the house, seeking
some other means of entrance. In the narrow areaway he saw a small
window, apparently opening into the cellar. He tried it. It was unlocked
and gave easily before the pressure of his hand.

Hal lay flat upon the ground and pushed his feet through the opening.
Then, slowly, he let his body through until he hung by his hands. He did
not know how far his feet might be from the floor, but it was no time to
hesitate. He rele