y--only--"

Casey paused, gasping for his wind.

"Only what, Casey?"

"Only alibi me, Larry, by slipping over a haymaker on me like you did on
Gavegan. So's I can say I tried to get you, but you were too quick and
knocked me cold. Quick! Only not too hard--I know how to play possum."

Larry handed the pistol to Hunt. "Casey, you're a real scout! Thanks!"
He grasped Casey's hand, then swiftly relaxed his grip. "Ready?"

"Fire," said Casey.

Larry held his open left hand close to Casey's jaw, and drove his right
fist into his palm with a thudding smack. Casey went sprawling to the
floor, and lay there loosely, with mouth agape, in perfect simulation of
a man who has been knocked out.

Larry turned quickly. "You two will testify that I beat Casey up and
then made my escape?"

"Sure, I'll testify to anything for the sake of a good old goat like
Casey!" cried Hunt. "But hurry, boy--beat it!"

The Duchess held out Larry's hat to him, and thrust into his coat
pocket a roll of bills which had come from her capacious skirt. "Hurry,
Larry--and be careful--for you're all I've got."

Impulsively Larry stooped and kissed the thin, shriveled lips of his
grandmother--the first kiss he had ever given her. Then he turned and
ran down the stairway, Hunt just behind him. He turned out the light in
the back room, and called to Old Isaac to darken the pawnshop proper. He
was going forth with two forces in arms against him, the police and his
pals, and he had no desire to be a shining mark for either or both by
stepping through a lighted doorway.

"Larry, my son, you're all right!" said Hunt, gripping his hand in
the darkness. "Listen, boy: if ever you're trapped and can get to a
telephone, call Plaza nine-double-o-one and say 'Benvenuto Cellini.'"

"All right."

"Remember, you're to say 'Benvenuto Cellini,' and the telephone is Plaza
nine-double-o-one. Luck to you!" Again they gripped hands. Then Larry
slipped through the darkened doorway into whatever might lie beyond.

CHAPTER XI

A misting rain was being swirled about by a temperish wind as Larry
came out into the little street. Down toward the river the one gaslight
glowed faintly like an expiring nebula; all the little shops were
closed; home lights gleamed behind the curtained windows which the storm
had closed; so that the street was now a little canyon of uncertain
shadows.

Larry had not needed to think to know that Gavegan would be making his
vindictiv