of the place
appalled him. Nothing he had ever read conveyed anything of the plain
sordidness of it,--the unrelieved pall of it which burdened like the
weary dead stretch of an alkali desert. The scene did not even become
romantic to him, until glancing up, he saw above the irregular
roof-tops, the stars still bright in the virgin purple, saw the
unfouled spaces of the planet fields between them. What had such clean
things as the stars to do with this mired world below? This jeweled
roof was not intended for so squalid a floor. But the stars above
brought him back to the girl again, and she to her brother, and her
brother to this. Strange cycle! Then the stars and the blue gathered
them all into one. Strange one!

"Not here," announced Saul, wiping the oil from his fingers. Donaldson
breathed more freely. Without delay they hurried back to the cab.

"I had sort of a hunch that we 'd find him there," said Saul, "but we
did n't. Now we 'll have a cup of tea with Chung and set him to work.
It's a darned sight easier and a lot swifter way when you have n't any
clue at all to work on."

"And pleasanter," returned Donaldson. "I 've seen enough of this."

"Not so bad when you get used to 'em," answered Saul, lighting a fresh
cigar. "But I know how you feel; I 'm just that queer about morgues.
Can't get used to 'em nohow. Get the creeps every time I step inside a
morgue. But then I don't hanker after murder work of any sort like
some of the boys. It would be just my chance to get a taste of it
before I 'm done with the Riverside robberies."

"What are the Riverside robberies?" inquired Donaldson, with a faint
remembrance of the name.

"You been out of town?"

"No, but I don't read the papers much."

"I should say not. Four hold-ups in three weeks, all within half a
mile of one another on Riverside Drive."

"Riverside Drive?"

He remembered now. The Arsdale home was near Riverside Drive. Barstow
had spoken of these crimes.

"You on the case?" he asked indifferently,

"Yes," answered Saul. "I 'm on the case and if another one breaks, the
case and the Chief will be on me."

The cab had stopped before an unlighted store. The street light
revealed a window filled with a medley of china, teas, silks, and
joss-sticks. Above, in big gilt letters, was the sign "Wun Chung and
Co."

It was surprising how quickly in response to Saul's knocking a door to
the left of the main entrance, and leading ups