Garrick studied the writing, then added, thoughtfully, “if I knew him, I might warn him in time.”

“A fellow like that needs only the warning of a club or of a good pair of fists,” growled Warrington, impatiently.  “How are you going to work to find him?”

“Well,” reasoned Garrick, rolling up the sheet and restoring the room to its usual condition, “for one thing, the letter makes it pretty evident that he knows something about the gambling joint, perhaps is one of the regular habitues of the place.  That was why I didn’t want you to take any steps to close up the place immediately.  I want to go there and look it over while it is in operation.  Now, you admit that you have been in the place, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes,” he replied, “I’ve been there with Forbes and the other fellows, but as I told you, I don’t go in for that sort of thing.”

“Well,” persisted Garrick, “you are sufficiently known, any way, to get in again.”

“Certainly.  I can get in again.  The man at the door will let me in—­and a couple of friends, too, if that’s what you mean.”

“That is exactly what I mean,” returned Garrick.  “It’s no use to go early.  I want to see the place in full blast, just as the after-theatre crowd is coming in.  Suppose you meet us, Warrington, about half past ten or so.  We can get in.  They don’t know anything yet about your intention to cancel the lease and close up the place, although apparently someone suspects it, or he wouldn’t have been so anxious to get that letter off to Miss Winslow.”

“Very well,” agreed Warrington, “I will meet you at the north end of ‘Crime Square,’ as you call it, at that time.  Good luck until then.”

“Not a bad fellow, at all,” commented Garrick when Warrington had disappeared down the hall from the office.  “I believe he means to do the square thing by every one.  It’s a shame he has been dragged into a mess like this, that may affect him in ways that he doesn’t suspect.  Oh, well, there is nothing we can do for the present.  I’ll just add this clew of the handwriting to the clew of the automobile tires against the day when we get—­pshaw!—­he has taken the letter with him.  I suppose it is safe enough in his possession, though.  He can’t wait until he has proved to Violet that he is honest.  I don’t blame him much.  I told you, you know, that the younger set are just crazy over Violet Winslow.”

CHAPTER VI

THE GAMBLING DEN

In spite of the agitation that was going on at the time in the city against gambling, we had no trouble in being admitted to the place in Forty-eighth Street.  They seemed to recognise Warrington, for no sooner had the lookout at the door peered through a little grating and seen him than the light woodwork affair was opened.

To me, with even my slender knowledge of such matters, it had seemed rather remarkable that only such a door should guard a place that was so notorious.  Once inside, however, the reason was apparent.  It didn’t.  On the outside there was merely such a door as not to distinguish the house, a three-story and basement dwelling, of old brownstone, from the others in the street.