aler is not the
only thing he's got against you; he's jealous of you on account of
everything--especially Maggie. So you'll need that gun."

"What's this I've fallen into the middle of?" exclaimed Hunt. "A
Kentucky feud?"

"It's very easy to understand when you know the code," Larry explained
grimly. "Down here when an outfit thinks one of its members has squealed
on them, it's their duty to be always on the watch for their chance to
finish him off. I'm to be finished off--that's all."

"Say, young fellow, the life of a straight crook doesn't seem to be
getting much simpler! Why, man, you hardly dare to stir from the house!
What are you going to do?"

"Going to go around my business, always with the pleasant anticipation
of a bullet in my back when some fellow thinks it safe for him to
shoot."

The three of them discussed this latest development over their dinner,
which they had together up in Hunt's studio. But despite all their talk
of his danger, a very real and near danger, Larry's mind was more
upon Maggie who had thus suddenly been wrenched out of his life. He
remembered her excited, boastful talk of their first evening. Her period
of schooling was indeed now over; she was now committed to her rosily
imagined adventure, in which she saw herself as a splendid lady. And
with Barney Palmer as her guiding influence!...

Dinner had been finished and Hunt was trying to give Larry such cheer
as "Buck up, young fellow--you know the worst--there's nothing else that
can happen," when the lie direct was given to his phrases by heavy steps
running up the stairway and the opening and closing of the door. There
stood Officer Casey, heaving for breath.

Instinctively Larry drew his pistol. "Casey! What're you here for?"

"Get rid of that gat--don't be found with a gun on," ordered Casey. "And
beat it. You've got less than five minutes to make your get-away."

"My get-away! What's up?"

"You haven't come across as the Chief ordered you to, and he's out to
give you just what he said he would," Casey said rapidly, his speech
broken by panting. "There's been a stick-up, with assault that may be
changed to attempted manslaughter, and the Chief has three men who swear
you're the guilty party. It's a sure-fire case against you, Larry--and
it'll mean five to ten years if you're caught. Gavegan and I got the
order to arrest you. I've beat Gavegan to it so's to tip you off, but
he's only a few minutes behind. Hurry, Larry! Onl