“Thanks very much, my friend,” and the face unsnarled itself, into the amiable lines of the normal.  The voice was agreeable and smooth, which surprised the man the more.  “You took me out of a ticklish situation tonight.  I don’t want any mere policemen to spoil my little game.  Please oil up your forgettery with these, and then—­forget!”

“Say, gov’nor,” retorted the driver, as he put the money into the band of his leather cap.  “I ain’t seen so much real change since my boss got stung on the war.  I ain’t so certain but what you was the gink robbin’ that house, at that.  But that’s them guys funeral if you beat ’em to it.  Good-night—­much obliged.  But I got to slip it to you, gov’nor—­you ain’t none of them Central Office flat-feet, sure ’nuff!  If you are a detective, you’re some fly cop!”

CHAPTER IV

A SCIENTIFIC NOVELTY

In a private ward room at Bellevue Hospital, Captain Cronin was just returning to memory of himself and things that had been.  Shirley arrived at his cot-side as he was being propped up more comfortably.  The older man’s face broke into game smiles, as the criminologist took the chair provided by the pretty nurse.

“Thanks, I’ll have a little chat with my friend, if you don’t think it will do him any harm.”

“He is better now, sir.  We feared he was fatally injured when they brought him in.  I’ll be outside in the corridor if you need anything.”

She left not without an admiring look at the big chap, wondering why he wore such disreputable superstructure with patent leather pumps and silk hose showing below the ragged overcoat.  Strange sights come to hospitals, curiosity frequently leading to unprofitable knowledge:  so she was silently discreet.  Shirley’s garb was not unobserved by the detective chief.  Monty laughed reminiscently at the questioning glance.

“These are my working clothes—­a fine combination.  I nabbed two of the gang.  But what became of you?”

“Outside that club door, I wanted to save time for us both.  I took the first taxi in sight.  Before I could even call out to you, the door slammed on me, the shades flopped down, the car started up—­the next thing I knew this here nurse was sticking a spoon in my mouth, a-saying:  ’Take this—­it’s fine for what ails you!’”

“I wonder if it could have been the same machine they left at Van Cleft’s?  I will tell you how things progressed.”  So he did, leaving out only the confidence of Professor MacDonald.  The Captain became feverishly excited, until Shirley abjured him to beware of a relapse.  “You must be calm, for the next twenty-four hours:  there will be much for you to do, even then.  Meanwhile, let me call up your agency; then you give them instructions over this table telephone to let Howard Van Cleft interview the little chorus girl, with his friend.  I’ll be the friend.”