I

It was only after many hours of that it had upon me that the and way of the Little Nugget was to him to remove himself. Once the idea had come, the was simple. The which had taken place that in the stable-yard had been brief. I a boy in Ogden's position, with his record of narrow from the kidnapper, comes to take as a of which would the ordinary boy. He assumed, I imagine, that I was the agent of his mother, and that the money which I gave him for came from her. Perhaps he had been something of the sort. At any rate, he the points of the with promptitude. His little hand was to the cash almost I had speaking.

The main of my plan was that he should away to

London, the afternoon, go to my rooms, where he would find

Smith, and with Smith travel to his mother at Monaco. I had

written to Smith, him be in for the expedition.

There was no in the as I had it out, and though

Ogden had it a little by away

Augustus Beckford to him company, he had not its

success.

But now an had arisen. My one now was to for which I had been plotting.

I there, looking at her dumbly, myself for being the of the in her eyes. If I had her, I not have more despicable. In my I Cynthia for leading me into this tangle.

I my name spoken, and to White at my elbow.

'Mr Abney would like to see you, sir.'

I upstairs, to escape. The of the had to tear at my nerves.

'Cub id, Bister Burds,' said my employer, a lozenge. His was more than ever. 'White has just an—ah—extraordinary to me. It he is in a detective, an employee of Pidkertod's Agedcy, of which you have, of course—ah—heard.'

So White had himself. On the whole, I was not surprised. Certainly his for concealment, the of making Mr Abney nervous, was removed. An of Red Indians with have added to Mr Abney's at the present juncture.

'Sent here by Mr Ford, I suppose?' I said. I had to say something.

'Exactly. Ah—precisely.' He sneezed. 'Bister Ford, without me—I do not on the good taste or of his actiod—dispatched White to apply for the post of at this—ah—house, his having left at a bobedt's dotice, to do so, I suspect, by Bister Ford himself. I be Bister Ford, but do so.'

I the sound.

'All thad, however,' Mr Abney, his from a of at which he had been with the of a dog at a rabbit-hole, 'is the poidt. I it to why White will you to London.'

'What!'

The was from me by my dismay. This was appalling. If this was to me, my of Ogden was gone. It had been my to go to my rooms, in the of him not yet departed. But how was I to his presence there to White?

'I don't think it's necessary, Mr Abney,' I protested. 'I am sure

I can manage this by myself.'

'Two are wud,' said the sententiously, his in the once more.

'Too many cooks the broth,' I replied. If the was to of maxims, I match him as long as he pleased.

He did not keep up the level of the discussion.

'Dodseds!' he snapped, with the of a man proverb has been by another. I had him speak so sharply. White's had him. He had all the ordinary peaceful man's for the professional detective.

'White will you, Bister Burds,' he said doggedly.

'Very well,' I said.

After all, it might be that I should an opportunity of him the slip. London is a large city.

A minutes later the arrived, and White and I set on our mission.

We did not talk much in the cab. I was too with my to remarks, and White, apparently, had of his own to him.

It was when we had settled ourselves in an empty and the train had started that he speech. I had provided myself with a book as a against conversation, and at once to make a of reading, but he through my defences.

'Interesting book, Mr Burns?'

'Very,' I said.

'Life's more than books.'

I no on this observation. He was not discouraged.

'Mr Burns,' he said, after the had a moments.

'Yes?'

'Let's talk for a spell. These train-journeys are slow.'

Again I to that of meaning in his voice which I had noticed in the of our of in the hall. I up and met his eye. He was looking at me in a way that me as curious. There was something in those of his which had the of making me uneasy. Something to tell me that he had a in his on me.

'I I can you a more than that book, if it's the best seller that was hatched.'

'Oh!'

He a cigarette.

'You didn't want me around on this trip, did you?'

'It for of us to go,' I said

indifferently. 'Still, two are than one, as

Mr Abney remarked. What do you to do when you to

London?'

He and me on the knee.

'I to to you like a label on a bottle, sonny,' he said. 'That's what I to do.'

'What do you mean?'

I was it difficult, such is the of a conscience, to meet his eye, and the me.

'I want to out that address you gave the Ford kid this out in the stable-yard.'

It is how are. I had read in which some character's into his mouth. For an I have that mine had actually done so. The of some solid object up my was vivid, and there to be a in the spot where my should have been. Not for a I have a word at that moment. I not breathe. The of the had me.

White, however, was prepared to continue the without my assistance.

'I you didn't know I was around, or you wouldn't have talked that way. Well, I was, and I every word you said. Here was the money, you said, and he was to take it and for London, and go to the address on this card, and your Smith would look after him. I there had been some talk that, but I didn't arrive in time to it. But I all I wanted, that address. And that's what I'm going to out when we to London.'

He gave out this in a rich and voice, as if it were some ordinary commonplace. To me it to end everything. I I was already as good as under arrest. What a I had been to discuss such a in a place like a yard, empty. I might have that at a there are no empty places.

'I must say it me when I you that stuff,' White. 'I haven't what you might call a in my fellow-man as a rule, but it had to me for a moment that you be playing that game. It only shows,' he added philosophically, 'that you've got to when it comes to a gilt-edged like the Little Nugget.'

The train on. I to my mind to order, to some plan, but not.

Beyond the that I was in the of my life, I to have the power of thought.

White his monologue.

'You had me guessing,' he admitted. 'I couldn't you out. First thing, of course, I you must be in with Buck MacGinnis and his crowd. Then all that tonight, and I saw that, you might be in with, it wasn't Buck. And now I've you. You're not in with any one. You're just playing it by yourself. I shouldn't mind this was your job, and that you saw your of making a by up old man Ford, and it was than schoolmastering, and it.'

He and me on the again. There was something in the action. As one who has had experience, I can that, while to be at all is bad, to be by a with a manner is maddening.

'See here,' he said, 'we must together over this business.'

I it was the of the same in the mouth of Buck MacGinnis that me up with a and at him.

'We'll make a great team,' he said, still in that same voice. 'If there was a case of fifty-fifty, this is it. You've got the kid, and I've got you. I can't away with him without your help, and you can't away with him unless you square me. It's a stand-off. The only thing is to in at the game together and out. Does it go?'

He on my the space of time it takes to select a cigarette and light a match. Then, a of smoke, he his and back.

'When I told you I was a Pinkerton's man, sonny,' he said, 'I missed the cold truth by about a mile. But you me off in the grounds, and it was up to me to say something.'

He a smoke-ring and it till it melted in the from the ventilator.

'I'm Smooth Sam Fisher,' he said.

II

When two clash, the goes to the wall. Any I might have was up in my relief. If I had been at to be astonished, my companion's would no have me. But I was not. I was so that he was not a Pinkerton's man that I did not what else he might be.

'It's always been a of mine, in these little matters,' he on, 'to let other do the work, and in myself when they've the way. It saves trouble and expense. I don't travel with a gang, like that bone-headed Buck. What's the use of a gang? They only over each other and everything. Look at Buck! Where is he? Down and out. While I—'

He complacently. His manner me. I to being looked upon as a cat's by this scoundrel.

'While you—what?' I said.

He looked at me in mild surprise.

'Why, I come in with you, sonny, and take my like a gentleman.'

'Do you!'

'Well, don't I?'

He looked at me in the half-reproachful half-affectionate manner of the old uncle who with a nephew.

'Young man,' he said, 'you surely aren't you can put one over on me in this business? Tell me, you don't take me for that of ivory-skulled boob? Do you for one instant, sonny, that I'm not next to every move in this game? Are you with the idea that this thing isn't a perfect for me? Let's what's you. You to have some ideas in your head. Let's talk it over quietly.'

'If you have no objection,' I said, 'no. I don't want to talk to you, Mr Fisher. I don't like you, and I don't like your way of earning your living. Buck MacGinnis was enough, but at least he was a tough. There's no for you.'

'Surely we are this p.m., are we not?' said

Sam suavely.

I did not answer.

'Is this not professional jealousy?'

This was too much for me.

'Do you for a moment that I'm doing this for money?'

'I did have that impression. Was I wrong? Do you the sons of for your health?'

'I promised that I would this boy to his mother. That is why I gave him the money to go to London. And that is why my was to have taken him to—to where Mrs Ford is.'

He did not reply in words, but if spoke, his said, 'My dear sir, really!' I not under their disbelief.

'That's the truth,' I said.

He his shoulders, as who would say, 'Have it your own way. Let us the subject.'

'You say "was to have taken". Have you your plans?'

'Yes, I'm going to take the boy to the school.'

He laughed—a rich, laugh. His comfortably.

'It won't do,' he said, his with reproach.

'It won't do.'

'You don't me?'

'Frankly, I do not.'

'Very well,' I said, and to read my book.

'If you want to give me the slip,' he chuckled, 'you must do than that. I can see you the Nugget to the school.'

'You will, if you wait,' I said.

'I wonder what that address was that you gave him,' he mused.

'Well, I shall soon know.'

He into silence. The train rolled on. I looked at my watch.

London was not off now.

'The present of equal division,' said Sam, a long silence, 'holds good, of course, only in the event of your this game and doing the square thing by me. Let me put it plainly. We are either partners or competitors. It is for you to decide. If you will be and tell me that address, I will my word—'

'Your word!' I said scornfully.

'Honour among thieves!' Sam, with geniality. 'I wouldn't double-cross you for worlds. If, however, you think you can manage without my assistance, it will then be my to you to the kid, and him and the money on my own account. Am I to take it,' he said, as I was silent, 'that you to an alliance?'

I a page of my book and on reading.

'If Youth but knew!' he sighed. 'Young man, I am nearly twice your age, and I have, at a estimate, about ten times as much sense. Yet, in your self-confidence, with your gall, you you can hand me a lemon. Me! I should smile!'

'Do,' I said. 'Do, while you can.'

He his reprovingly.

'You will not be so fresh, sonny, in a hours. You will be pieces out of yourself, I fear. And later on, when my you with in Piccadilly, you will taste the full of remorse. Well, Youth must its experience, I suppose!'

I looked across at him as he sat, and and complacent, at his cigarette, and my to the old ruffian. It was to maintain an of with him. I might his mode of life, and him as a representative—and a leading representative—of one of the most on earth, but there was a sunny about the man himself which it hard to to him as an individual.

I closed my book with a and out laughing.

'You're a wonder!' I said.

He at what he took to be that I was to the and view of the matter.

'Then you think, on consideration—' he said. 'Excellent! Now, my dear man, all joking aside, you will take me with you to that address, will you not? You that I do not ask you to give it to me. Let there be not so much as the of the double-cross about this business. All I ask is that you allow me to you to where the Nugget is hidden, and then on my of this of game to him safely away and open with the dad.'

'I your has been wide?' I said.

'Quite tolerably—quite tolerably.'

'Doesn't it worry you the and you cause?'

'Purely temporary, both. And then, look at it in another way. Think of the and of the when comes home again! Surely it is some temporary to taste that happiness? In a sense, you might call me a benefactor. I teach to their children. You know what are. Father in rails one morning. When he home, what he do? He his mind by at little Willie. Mrs Van First-Family to mother to her freak-dinner. What happens? Mother takes it out of William. They love him, maybe, but they are too used to him. They do not all he is to them. And then, one afternoon, he disappears. The agony! The remorse! "How I have told our to stop his noise!" father. "I him!" mother. "With this hand I our darling!" "We were not to have him," they together. "But oh, if we but him back!" Well they do. They him as soon as they to come across in hundred-dollar bills. And after that they think twice off their on the kid. So I into the home. I don't say father doesn't a every now and then when he of the in his bank balance, but, it, what's money for if it's not to spend?'

He with fervour.

'What makes you so set on Ogden Ford?' I asked. 'I know he is valuable, but you must have your by this time. I that you have been your particular of for a good many years. Why don't you retire?'

He sighed.

'It is the of my life to retire, man. You may not me, but my are domestic. When I have the to day-dreams, they centre around a little home with a and washtubs.'

He me closely, as if to decide I was of these confidences. There was something in his eyes. I the must have been favourable, or he was in a mood when a man must himself to someone, for he to open his to me. A man in his particular line of business, I imagine, confidants, and the at times.

'Have you the love of a good woman, sonny? It's a thing.' He for a moment, then continued, and—to my mind—somewhat the of his opening words. 'The love of a good woman,' he said, 'is about the lay-out that came the pike. I know. I've had some.'

A from his cigarette on his hand. He a oath.

'We came from the same old town,' he resumed, having from this interlude. 'Used to be at the same … Walked to together … me her luncheon-basket and helping her over the … Ah! … Just the same when we up. Still pals. And that was twenty years ago … The was that I should go out and make the money to the home, and then come and her.'

'Then why the haven't you done it?' I said severely.

He his head.

'If you know anything about crooks, man,' he said, 'you'll know that of their own line they are the marks that happened. They for anything. At least, it's always been that way with me. No sooner did I together a of and start out for the old town, when some would come along and me up against some skin-game, and I'd have to go to work. That a times, and when I did manage at last to home with the I she had married another guy. It's hard on women, you see,' he chivalrously. 'They and Roving Rupert doesn't up, so they have to Stay-at-Home Henry just to keep from the horrors.'

'So she's Mrs Stay-at-Home Henry now?' I said sympathetically.

'She was till a year ago. She's a now. Deceased had a with a skunk, so I'm informed. I he was a good man. Outside of him at I didn't know him well. I saw her just I left to come here. She's as of me as ever. It's all settled, if only I can with the mazuma. And she don't want much, either. Just to keep the home together.'

'I wish you happiness,' I said.

'You can do than that. You can take me with you to that address.'

I the subject.

'What she say to your way of making money?' I asked.

'She doesn't know, and she ain't going to know. I don't see why a man has got to tell his wife every little thing in his past. She thinks I'm a drummer, in England for a dry-goods firm. She wouldn't for the other thing, not for a minute. She's very particular. Always was. That's why I'm going to after I've out over this thing of the Little Nugget.' He looked at me hopefully. 'So you will take me along, sonny, won't you?'

I my head.

'You won't?'

'I'm sorry to a romance, but I can't. You must look around for some other home into which to happiness. The Fords' is barred.'

'You are very obstinate, man,' he said, sadly, but without any ill-feeling. 'I can't you?'

'No.'

'Ah, well! So we are to be rivals, not allies. You will this, sonny. I may say you will it very bitterly. When you see me in my automo—'

'You mentioned your before.'

'Ah! So I did.'

The train had stopped, as always do on English railways entering a terminus. Presently it to move hesitatingly, as if saying to itself, 'Now, am I wanted here? Shall I be welcome?' Eventually, after a second halt, it slowly alongside the platform.

I out and ran to the cab-rank. I was a taxi, out of the station the train had stopped.

Peeping out of the window at the back, I was unable to see Sam. My move, I took it, had him. I had left him standing.

It was a of an hour's drive to my rooms, but to me, in my anxiety, it more. This was going to be a close thing, and success or failure a of minutes. If he my Smith would be starting for the Continental boat-train tonight with his companion; and, out the distances, I saw that, by the time I arrive, he might already have left my rooms. Sam's at Sanstead Station had it for me to send a telegram. I had had to trust to chance. Fortunately my train, by a miracle, had been up to time, and at my present of progress I ought to catch Smith a minutes he left the building.

The up. I ran up the stairs and opened the door of my apartment.

'Smith!' I called.

A chair along the and a door opened at the end of the passage. Smith came out.

'Thank you have not started. I I should miss you.

Where is the boy?'

'The boy, sir?'

'The boy I to you about.'

'He has not arrived, sir.'

'Not arrived?'

'No, sir.'

I at him blankly.

'How long have you been here?'

'All day, sir.'

'You have not been out?'

'Not since the hour of two, sir.'

'I can't it,' I said.

'Perhaps the his mind and started, sir?'

'I know he started.'

Smith had no to offer.

'Pending the gentleman's arrival, sir, I in London?'

A voice spoke at the door me.

'What! Hasn't he arrived?'

I turned. There, and benevolent, Mr Fisher.

'It to me to look your name out in the telephone directory,' he explained. 'I might have of that before.'

'Come in here,' I said, opening the door of the sitting-room. I did not want to discuss the thing with him Smith.

He looked about the room admiringly.

'So these are your quarters,' he said. 'You do well, man. So I that the Nugget has gone in transit. He has his plans on the way?'

'I can't it.'

'I can! You gave him a amount of money?'

'Yes. Enough to him to—where he was going.'

'Then, the boy, I should say that he has other for it. He's it up in London, and, I should fancy, having the time of his life.'

He got up.

'This of course,' he said, 'alters any we may have come to, sonny. All idea of a partnership is now out of the question. I wish you well, but I have no use for you. Somewhere in this great city the Little Nugget is hiding, and I to him—entirely on my own account. This is where our paths divide, Mr Burns. Good night.'