over to
Barlow's table. He conversed with his Chief a moment or two, then went
out. After a minute Barney saw Chief Barlow crossing toward the bar.
Barney seemed not to notice this movement. Barlow likewise paused beside
him to light a cigar; and from the side of the Chief's mouth there
issued: "Room 613."

Barlow passed on. Presently Barney finished the dreary drudgery of
drink and sauntered out. Five minutes later, having exercised the proper
caution, he was in Room 613, and the door was locked.

"What's this dope you just handed Gavegan about Larry Brainard?"
demanded Barlow.

Barney gave his information, again, but this time more fully. Of course
he omitted all mention of Maggie and the enterprise which Larry had
sought to interrupt; it was part of the tacit understanding between
these two that Barlow should have no knowledge of Barney's professional
doings, unless such knowledge should be forced upon him by events or
people too strong to be ignored.

"Did Brainard drop any clue that might give us a lead as to where he's
hiding out?"

Barney remembered something Larry had said half an hour before, which he
had considered mere boasting. "He said he knew I had some game on, and
he said he knew who the sucker was I was planning to trim."

"Did he say who the sucker was?"

"No."

"If Larry Brainard really did know, then who would he be having in
mind?"

Barney hesitated; but he perceived that this was a question which had
to be answered. "Young Dick Sherwood, of the swell Sherwood family--you
know."

Barlow did not pursue the subject. According to his arrangement with
Barney, the latter's private activities were none of his business.

"I'll get busy with the drag-net; we'll land Brainard this time," said
Barlow. And then with a grim look at Barney: "But Larry Brainard's not
what I got you up here to talk about, Palmer. I wanted to talk about two
words to you--and say 'em to you right between your eyes."

"Go ahead, Chief."

"First, you ain't been worth a damn to me for several months. You've
given me no value received for me keeping my men off of you. You haven't
turned up a single thing."

"Come, now, Chief--you're forgetting about Red Hannigan and Jack
Rosenfeldt."

"Chicken feed! They're out on bail, and when their cases come up,
they'll beat them! Besides, you didn't give me that tip to help me; you
gave it to me so that you could fix things to put Larry Brainard in bad
with all his old friends