they made a loud
declaration that they were going to search the cellar. I have had
similar experiences, my young friend."

"But they won't leave the front door, and they may burst in here at
any moment," protested Gladwin.

"But they will leave the front door when I want them to," said the
other, softly.

"By jove, you're a wonderful chap!"

"I've got to be to keep out of jail."

"It's a shame that you misdirect your energies and genius," said the
young man, earnestly.

"But you must acknowledge that I work hard for what I get."

"Yes, I do."

"And I really love pictures."

"For themselves?"

"H'm, yes--for themselves."

Travers Gladwin stood frowning at the floor for a moment, then looked
up quickly.

"See here, then--you've worked mighty hard for my pictures and I'm
going to give you a few of the best of them. Here!" And Gladwin
stepped over to the corner of the room where the trunk had been
dropped and picked up a bundle of canvases.

The picture expert wore a broad grin as the young man came toward him.
He waved aside the proffered bundle and said:

"Those are not the best of them. Just a minute."

He reached behind him and pulled down from under his belted coat a
similar carefully rolled bundle.

"These are the gems of your collection," he said grimly, offering the
slim roll of canvases. "I can't keep them now--you've been too white
about this whole thing. I couldn't even accept 'The Blue Boy.'"

Gladwin refused to accept the paintings and the thief laid them down
on the table. Stepping closer to the young man, he bent down and said
low and earnestly:

"When a man goes wrong, Gladwin, and the going leans against the lines
of least resistance, it's easier to keep on going than to stop and
switch off into the hard and narrow path. He is always hoping that
something will take hold of him and set him right, and that hope
usually involves a woman.

"I've been dreaming lately that I wanted something to set me going in
the right direction, but it seems that you have beaten me to that, or
are on the fair road to do it. The trouble is that I have forgotten
how to go about a clean thing cleanly."

"I'm mighty sorry, but"----Gladwin started.

"But you're also mighty glad."

"I shall always remember you, Wilson, and here's my hand on it that I
shall always be willing to help you up and out of the--the"----

"The muck!" supplied the thief, accepting Gladwin's hand and gripping
it.

"However,