rked, twisting my glass at him, "by Jove,
you know--eh?"

"Certainly, sir!" Jenkins admitted calmly. "I knew in a minute soon as
he told me!"

And, by Jove, I believed him! Had to, you know; it was only just one
instance of the devilish clever, intuitive way Jenkins had of boring
into things!

"Yes, sir,"--O'Keefe thoughtfully transferred a big wad to the other
cheek--"the captain gave me a little lay off so's I could bring 'em
up,"--he studied with interest the top of one of the pillars of the
_porte-cochere_ and shrugged lightly--"of course it wasn't just because
of the reward, though of course five hundred bucks is five hundred
bucks, but we thought you might like to have 'em--_thank you_, sir!" For
out of my folder I peeled five crisp centuries and laid them in his
palm.

This done, Jenkins glanced at me and turned suggestively toward the
entrance, but O'Keefe didn't make a move to go and no more did I. Fact
was, I had a devilish keen notion that the old cat up-stairs would be
watching for the policeman's departure through the grounds, and it came
to me that to play him a little longer wouldn't do any harm, but might
seal her jolly mouth the tighter.

O'Keefe thanked me again. "You're sure solid with the force, sir," he
assured, nodding earnestly. "Just remember my number and the name of
Captain Clutchem if any time in town you get rounded up in any of our
little--er, _you_ know!"--he dropped a cheerful wink at me and glanced
again at the bills. "Expect maybe you're anxious to know if Tim gets a
divy outer this," he proceeded; and I murmured some jolly something. Of
course, I _wasn't_ anxious, you know; fact is, I didn't care a
dash--didn't even remember who Tim was. "Yes, siree, he'll get ten of
this!" he finished impressively.

Meantime, he had been hunching himself up until now he succeeded in
wrenching from somewhere behind, a ragged and shiny old wallet, bulging
with worn and greasy papers. Within this, with a flourish, he laid the
bills.

Then he faced us with an air of increased cheerfulness.

"So much all for the velvet!" he remarked with another wink.

Of course it was of no importance to set him right about the material;
as for that, I didn't care a jolly hang if he thought they were made of
linoleum! But it gave me the idea of just peeking into a corner of the
parcel to satisfy myself that its contents were of filmy black silk--and
they were! I went no further; not for all the gold of what's-i