be afraid to bet that it was you that sent for me right now. I
hope you've come to get me out, for I give you my word that I know no
more about that Liverpool crib-cracking business than you do, and that's
what they're holding me for just now."

"Curly," said Nick, "you gave me some assistance once in a case I had
after I assured you that you would not betray a pal in doing it, and
that I would do a certain favor for you afterward. Did I keep my word
with you?"

"You kept it for fair, Mr. Carter. I ain't forgot it, neither."

"Well, Curly, I have come here to-night to get you to do another favor
for me, but first answer me one question."

"All right, sir. What's that?"

"Do they let you in at Mike Grinnel's Sunday night prayer meetings?"

"They sure do, Mr. Carter."

"If you were at liberty at this minute, isn't that the first place you
would point for?"

"That's about the size of it."

"And you would have no trouble in getting inside?"

"Not the least in the world."

"If the inspector will consent to let you go will you take me there--me
and this young man beside me, who is my assistant--on condition that I
make you a solemn promise that I will make no arrest while there; that I
will in no way interfere with Grinnel's business, or with any of his
customers who are there, and that unless you reveal the fact yourself it
will never be known that I was inside the place?"

Curly John scratched his head in perplexity.

"That's a pretty big contract you ask of me, Mr. Carter," he said.
"What's the game?"

"The game is, Curly, that I am very anxious to find out if a certain
person is in the city. If that person is in the city that person will be
at Grinnel's to-night, I know."

Curly scratched his head some more.

"And suppose, Mr. Carter, that person is at Grinnel's to-night, what do
you expect to do to that person?"

"To use your own words," replied Nick, "not the least thing in the
world."

"Then what do you want to go there for?"

"I have already told you that. I want to find out if that person is in
the city."

"Are you giving me this on the square?" asked Curly John.

"Absolutely on the square."

"And you won't make any trouble?"

"Not a particle of trouble of any kind."

"You nor that chap over there who is with you?"

"Neither of us. You have my word for that."

"Well, what about what's to come after it? Do you intend to follow that
person down and do the arresting afterward?"

"I w