Garrick raised his eyebrows the fraction of an inch.

“At any rate,” pursued McBirney, “someone must have been having a wild time there, for they carried a girl out to the car.  She seemed to be pretty far gone and even the air didn’t revive her—­ that is, assuming that she had been celebrating not wisely but too well.  Of course, the whole thing is pure speculation yet, as far as Warrington’s car is concerned.  Maybe it wasn’t his car, after all.  But I am repeating it only for what it may be worth.”

“Do you know the place?” asked Garrick, watching Warrington narrowly.

“I’ve heard of it,” he admitted, I thought a little evasively.

Then it flashed over me that Mrs. de Lancey was leading the crusade against society gambling and that that perhaps accounted for Warrington’s fears and evident desire for concealment.

“I know that some of the faster ones in the smart set go there once in a while for a little poker, bridge, and even to play the races,” went on Warrington carefully.  “I’ve never been there myself, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Angus could tell you all about it.  He goes in for all that sort of thing.”

“After all,” interrupted McBirney, “that’s only rumour.  Here’s the point of the whole thing.  For a long time my Association has been thinking that merely in working for the recovery of the cars we have been making a mistake.  It hasn’t put a stop to the stealing, and the stealing has gone quite far enough.  We have got to do something about it.  It struck me that here was a case on which to begin and that you, Garrick, are the one to begin it for us, while I carry on the regular work I am doing.  The gang is growing bolder and more clever every day.  And then, here’s a murder, too, in all likelihood.  If we don’t round them up, there is no limit to what they may do in terrorizing the city.”

“How does this gang, as you call it, operate?” asked Garrick.

“Most of the cars that are stolen,” explained McBirney, “are taken from the automobile district, which embraces also not a small portion of the new Tenderloin and the theatre district.  Actually, Garrick, more than nine out of ten cars have disappeared between Forty-second and Seventy-second Streets.”

Garrick was listening, without comment.

“Some of the thefts, like this one of Warrington’s car,” continued McBirney, warming up to the subject, “have been so bold that you would be astonished.  And it is those stolen cars, I believe, that are used in the wave of taxicab and motor car robberies, hold-ups, and other crimes that is sweeping over the city.  The cars are taken to some obscure garage, without doubt, and their identity is destroyed by men who are expert in the practice.”

“And you have no confidence in the police?” I inquired cautiously, mindful of his former manner.

“We have frequently had occasion to call on the police for assistance,” he answered, “but somehow or other it has seldom worked.  They don’t seem to be able to help us much.  If anything is done, we must do it.  If you will take the case, Garrick, I can promise you that the Association will pay you well for it.”