the little Jap had almost completely
disarmed the policeman's suspicion, but he surrendered reluctantly.

"Did he give yez a key to get in here?" Phelan fired as his last
shot.

"Ees--he give me all bunch keys--look!" and Bateato produced a gold
key ring with a gold tag and a number of keys attached. Phelan
examined it and read aloud the name Travers Gladwin engraved on the
tag. Handing them back to the Jap, he addressed him impressively,
gesturing his emphasis with his baton:

"I guess yez're all right, but I'll have me eye on yez from the
outside, mind that--and if yez're foolin' me or tryin' to get away
with anythin'"----

Phelan snapped his lips together and with a mighty lunge plucked an
imaginary prisoner out of the atmosphere and shook it ferociously.
Then stepping back to the doorway he shut one eye with a fierce wink
and jerked out:

"Are yez wise?"

The profound pantomime was too much for Bateato, who stared after the
vanishing officer in open-mouthed amazement.

CHAPTER VIII.

ART, MYSTERY AND LOVE.

The little Jap was still posed in an attitude of bewilderment as the
two outside doors slammed and Officer 666 went down the front steps to
resume the tread of his beat and the breaking of fragile hearts.

When he did emerge from his trance he returned to the task of getting
the great room in order with the same snappy energy he had displayed
when the uniformed minion of the law broke in upon him. He had removed
the covers from the chairs and was dusting off a great carved chest
that stood against the wall to the right of the doorway when the door
bell rang. Bateato jumped and then waited for a second ring. Stepping
warily out into the hallway, he looked to see if it was the grim
official in blue and buttons.

"Ha!" he exclaimed. "No more police," and he shot to the door and
opened it for that debonnair young gentleman who was one day to
inherit the mustard millions of Old Grim Barnes.

"Hello there, Bateato," Whitney Barnes greeted the little Jap
cordially. "Did your master show up yet?"

"He no come," grinned Bateato, shutting the door and leading the way
into the room he had been preparing for his master's arrival. As
Whitney Barnes stepped into the room the Jap asked:

"'Scuse me, Mr. Barnes--you see Mr. Gladwin?"

"No, nor his double, Thomas Smith of the Ritz; but he asked me to meet
him here at 5 o'clock, Bateato."

"Ees sair!" lisped the Jap, with a bob of the head; then dived