kets to help out his appearance of imperturbability.

"You let one go out, Phelan, and there were two others beside this
one."

The buttons on Phelan's coat were fairly undulating with the emotions
that stirred within him. In his seething gray matter there stirred the
remembrance that Bateato had told him that women were robbing the
house.

"You mean the women," he said, ignoring Gladwin and addressing the
thief. "I remember--when the little Japanaze called me oft me beat, he
said there was women crooks here, too."

"He's lying to you, Phelan," persisted Gladwin, though with less
vehemence, a great feeling of relief having visited him in the belief
that Helen had made her escape. "You can have the whole place searched
just as soon as you've got this man where he can't get away. There are
no women here."

This last declaration had scarcely passed his lips when a woman's
voice raised in hysterical protest was audible in the hallway.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

BATEATO SUMMONS BIG MUCH POLICE.

A vitagraph film of Bateato's journey to and from the police station
would consist of a series of dark brown blurs. If you have ever
noticed a mouse in full flight you will have some idea of how that Jap
ran. He knew where the police station was, too, for he had been there
once when his brother, Itchi Comia, was arrested for assaulting a
Russian peddler.

If the little Jap had only coursed through another street things might
have gone somewhat differently in the Gladwin household, for he would
have encountered Whitney Barnes hurrying in the opposite direction,
and that young man would very likely have prevented him from going to
the station.

But there was absolutely no obstacle in Bateato's way until he reached
the station house, and the only obstacle he encountered there was a
serious impediment in his speech.

Police Captain Stone had returned to barracks a few minutes after the
departure of Barnes and a few minutes before the arrival of Bateato.
He was standing beside the lieutenant's chair when the Jap sped in,
and he seemed almost interested (for a police captain) at the
extraordinary manifestations of emotion in Bateato's countenance.

"All pleece--quick--robbers--thieves--ladies!" began Bateato, then
paused and made wild jabs above his head with his hands.

"Crazy as a nut," said the lieutenant in an undertone to the captain,
and the captain nodded.

"All pictures--thieves--steal ladies!" was Bateato's secon