, I shouldn't be surprised if
they were far too shrewd to remain together in any place, but will
elect to operate singly, appear to have no connection whatsoever,
while they are here, and to have a sort of 'happy reunion' elsewhere
after their little job has been pulled off successfully. But in
any case, when we find them--if we ever do--depend upon it they will
be located in some quiet, respectable, secluded district, one of
the suburbs, for instance, and living as circumspectly as the most
prudish of prying neighbours could desire.

"Let us then go in for a series of 'walking tours' about the
outlying districts, Mr. Narkom, and see if we can't stumble over
something that will be worth while. It is true I've never met
nor even seen Hemmingway, but I fancy I should know if a man
were made up or not for the role in which he appears. I did,
however, brush elbows with Dutch Ella once. It was that time I went
over to New York on that affair of the Amsterdam diamonds. _You_
remember? When I 'split' the reward with the fellow from Mulberry
Street, whose daughter wanted to study music as a profession and he
couldn't afford to let her. I hobnobbed with some acquaintances of
the--er--old days, over there, and went one night to the big French
Ball at the Academy of Music, where, my companion of the night told
me, there would be 'a smashing big clean-up, as half the swell
crooks in town would be there--for business.'

"They were, I dare say, for he kept pointing out this one and that
to me and saying, 'That's so and so!' as they danced past us. I
shouldn't know any of them again, so far as looks are concerned,
for the annual French Ball in New York is a masked ball, as you
are, perhaps, aware; and I shouldn't know 'Dutch Ella' any better
than the rest, but for one thing--although I danced with her."

"Danced with her, Cleek? Danced?"

"Yes. For the purpose of 'getting a line on her shape,' so to speak,
for possible future reference. I couldn't see her face, for she was
masked to the very chin; but there's a curious, tumor-like lump, as
big as a hen's egg, just under her right shoulder-blade, and there's
the scar of an acid burn on the back of her left hand that she'll
carry to her grave. I shall know that scar if ever I see it again.
And if by any chance I should run foul of a woman bearing one like
it, and that woman should prove to have also a lump under the right
shoulder-blade----Come along! Let's get out and see if we ca