nly the men."

"You know them all?"

"Only the big fellows, and they will all be here to-night. Their big
gun, the boss of all of them, is in town, and to-night he receives
reports up there. Yes, sir, you will get it all. Is it luck or Dunne?"

"It's a little of both, old man."

"You've got it good, that's all. You are against the deck every time,
and I did not look to you for a drop in on this thing--no, never. But
you've got it all; yes, sir, that's certain."

The man Credo carefully locked the door leading into the room where he
and the detective stood. He then disclosed a remarkable sight to Dunne.
He slid aside a movable panel covered with paper at the side of the
projecting fireplace and revealed a door. Oscar stared.

"You see, I like to know what's going on, Mr. Dunne. I made this little
arrangement myself. No out knows of it but you. This opens into the
chimney, and there you see a spiral staircase that leads up to the room
where the meetings are held. When these chaps come here I always give
them that one room, and I have gathered some strange secrets at the head
of those steps. You see I've let each party into the arrangements of the
room where they meet. They think I have prepared for them a wonderful
meeting place. I have arranged for escapes to the roof. Indeed, I've got
all manner of ingenious contrivances for them; but you and I are the
only ones who know of this little arrangement here. Yes, I am credited
for picking up a great deal of criminal news. There's where I get it, up
there, and there is where you will get it to-night. I've given you the
whole business, Mr. Dunne."

Oscar fixed his keen eyes on his man, and a cold chill ran around our
hero's heart. He knew in some things he could trust the man, and he also
knew that his own death would relieve Credo of many terrors. He knew
that away down in his heart Credo hated him, and there was something
suspicious in the revelation the man was making. It struck our hero that
the fellow was acting with too much readiness. There was no need for the
man to discover this very important secret. Was it possible that Credo
was putting up a job to do away with the man who held him in his power?
It was indeed possible at least, and our hero was slow and cautious. He
did not intend to be trapped like a mouse nibbling at a piece of cheese.
The idea of honor among thieves is a myth. A rogue is a rogue all the
time, and criminals will betray a companion or a fri