f his nails. His face, clean-shaven save for a close-cropped and
sandy mustache, held a touch of the florid and his figure inclined to
stoutness. At the livery stable where he called for a buggy, after
learning that no taxis were to be had, he gave the name of Michael Hagan
and asked to be directed to the house of Mr. Eben Tollman.

Mr. Tollman was obviously expecting his visitor, and received him upon
arrival in his austere study. Yet the fact that there was no element of
surprise in Mr. Hagan's coming failed to relieve Mr. Tollman of traces
of nervousness as he inquired, "You are Mr. Hagan?"

"Yes, Mr. Tollman, I came up in answer to your letter."

The stranger had no roving eye. He seemed, indeed, steady of hearing to
the verge of stolidity, yet in a few seconds he had noted and drawn
rapid conclusions from the environment. The cheerlessness of the house
had struck him and the somber room, decorated, if one calls it
decoration, with faded steel engravings of Landseer hunting dogs
guarding dead birds and rabbits, impressed him.

Mr. Tollman bowed coldly.

"The matter I wish to discuss with you is confidential," he began by way
of introduction, and Hagan smiled as he replied, "Most matters which
clients discuss with me, _are_ confidential."

Even with this reassurance, Mr. Tollman appeared to labor under
embarrassment and it was only after some thought that he suggested,
"This business is so new to me that I hardly know how to approach it."

"A man should be extremely frank with his physician or his lawyer,"
volunteered the newcomer. "It's even truer in the case of a detective."

"In this instance," Mr. Tollman proceeded with the wariness of one
wading into water of unknown depth, "I am acting for friends whose
business interests I represent, and who do not care to appear in the
matter. Therefore your dealings will be exclusively with me."

"Certainly, that's quite usual. Now, what's the nature of the case? Your
letter didn't indicate."

"Well, the fact is I wish to have a somewhat searching investigation
made into the personal character and conduct of a young gentleman, who
for reasons unnecessary to state, is of interest to my friends."

"Let me understand you clearly," prompted Mr. Hagan, with a briskness
that accentuated the other's air of secretiveness. "Is this man to be
shown up? Is that what you mean?"

Mr. Tollman stiffened. "I should suppose," he said with cool dignity,
"that would be dependent t