nt.

"Don't tell me they're not in, you idiot!"

"The servant I paid to be on the lookout is trying to steer away some one
that insists on seeing us," whispered Fred Radwin, listening intently.

"Neither of the gentlemen are in, I tell you, sir," replied the hotel
servant, doggedly.

"Get out of the way, fellow! I know the number of their suite of rooms,
and I'm going to it. I don't want to hurt you, fellow, but I'm the
Chief of Police, and I mean to see Mr. Radwin without delay!"

"The Chief of Police!" gasped Radwin, feeling his knees weaken under him.

He and Rhinds stared uneasily at each other.

"You see him first," whispered Fred Radwin. "I've some things in my
pockets that I wouldn't want the chief of police to find. Hold the
police fellow by telling him I'll be right in."

With that Radwin slipped to the door of a connecting room in the suite.
He passed through, closing the door noiselessly and slipping the key in
the lock.

An instant later John Rhinds opened his door out into the hallway.

"Who is it to see us?" he called.

"It's I, Ward, time Chief of Police," replied the caller, stepping into
the room. "You are Mr.--"

"Rhinds."

"I wish to see your Mr. Radwin. I have a message for him."

"Be seated, Chief," urged the rascal. "Mr. Radwin will be here in a
moment."

"Where is Radwin now?" demanded the chief.

"In the next room. He'll be here in a moment."

"Did he go through that door?" asked Chief Ward.

"Yes."

"Then I'll see him at once," replied the official.

He stepped over and tried the knob of the door. Finding the bolt shot,
Chief Ward promptly put his stalwart shoulder to the door. At the
second bump the door yielded. Ward burst into the next room, then on
to the third.

"Why did you trick me, Mr. Rhinds?" called the chief, angrily.

"I? Why--I--"

Radwin was not to be found.

The Chief of Police, angry at being baffled in his search for Radwin,
went away declaring that he would have an order issued for the arrest
of Rhinds as an accessory.

CHAPTER XX

CAPTAIN JACK PULLS A NEW STRING

Radwin did not return.

Though looking outwardly composed, John C. Rhinds passed the next few
hours in a condition of internal unrest.

Why did Chief Ward want to see Fred Radwin? And why had the latter
tricked himself off out of sight?

These questions tormented Rhinds the more because he could not even
invent satisfactory answers to them.

"Is the chief