“When Mr. Dick spoke over the ’phone about your coming,” he said to Miss Sherwood, “I asked you not to do it.”

Barlow was prompt to speak, and the sudden change in his voice would have been amazing to those who do not know how the little great men of the Police Department, and other little great men, can alter their tones.  He had recognized Miss Sherwood at once, as would any one else at all acquainted with influential New York.

“Miss Sherwood, I believe,” he said, essaying a slight bow.

“Yes.  Though I fear I have not the pleasure of knowing you.”

“Deputy Barlow, head of the Detective Bureau of the Police Department,” he informed her.  “Entirely at your service.”

“Just what is going on here?” she queried.  “I know a part of what has happened”—­she was addressing herself particularly to Maggie and Larry—­“for Dick telephoned me about seven, and I came right into town.  He told me everything he knew—­which threw a different light on a lot of events—­and Dick telephoned at about nine that I was coming over.  But something more seems to have happened.”

“Miss Sherwood, it’s like—­” began Barlow.

“Just a second, Chief,” Larry interrupted.  Larry knew what a sensational story this would be as it had developed—­and he knew in advance just how it would be seized upon and played up by the newspapers.  And Larry did not want unpleasant publicity for his friends (three in that room were trying to make a fresh start in life), nor for those who had been his friends.  “Chief, do you want to make an arrest on a charge which will involve every person in this room in a sensational story?  Of course I know most of us here don’t weigh anything with you.  But why drag Miss Sherwood, who is innocent in every way, into a criminal story that will serve to cheapen her and every decent person involved?  Besides, it can only be a conspiracy charge, and there’s more than a probability that you can’t prove your case.  So why make an arrest that will drag in Miss Sherwood?”

Barlow had a mind which functioned with amazing rapidity on matters pertaining to his own interest.  He realized on the instant how it might count for him in the future if he were in a position to ask a favor of a person of Miss Sherwood’s standing; and he spoke without hesitation: 

“I don’t know anything about this Sherwood matter.  If anyone ever asks me, they’ll not get a word.”

There was swift relief on the faces of Barney and Old Jimmie; to be instantly dispelled by Chief Barlow’s next statement which followed his last with only a pause for breath: 

“The main thing we want is to stick these two crooks away.”  He turned on Barney and Old Jimmie.  “I’ve just learned you two fellows are the birds I want for that Gregory stock business.  I’ve got you for fair on that.  It’ll hold you a hundred times tighter than any conspiracy charge.  Casey, Gavegan—­hustle these two crooks out of here.”