nk I have now
made my position clear to those fellows!" A grim satisfaction was
apparent in his voice and bearing, the usual aftermath with him of an
outburst of temper. "Now we can resume where we left off."

"What was that stuff about a monk?" demanded Jason.

"That's part of my story. When Mr. Krech has heard it, he will tell us
if it is likely to interest his friend." He sent a questioning glance
at the big man. "By the way, what is his name?"

"Peter Creighton," said Mr. Krech.

_X: Creighton Takes the Case_

Jason Bolt and Herman Krech listened to Varr's narrative in rapt
silence. The former's interest was mixed with amazement, the latter's
with enthusiasm. As the tale progressed the big man hitched farther
and farther forward in his chair, his expression that of a little child
who proposes to miss no syllable of a fascinating fairy story. He
considered himself something of a connoisseur in crime, did Mr. Krech,
thanks to a few experiences with his friend Creighton, and a subject
that had always made an appeal to his imagination was now become the
hobby of his every idle moment. Although he would not have abandoned a
lucrative business to take a position on Creighton's staff of
operatives, it was his secret grief that the detective had never
recognized his ability to the extent of offering him one.

He was beaming with delight by the time Varr had ended his curt account
of his tribulations, and his distaste of the tanner's personality had
been temporarily forgotten.

"Gee Joseph, Mr. Varr!" he burst out. "You really ought to
congratulate yourself! You've been the victim of the prettiest piece
of persecution I've ever heard of!"

"Thanks," returned Simon without enthusiasm.

"He seems to be waltzing all around you and jabbing you just where it
will hurt the most, and yet he's clever enough to evade capture and
even to keep you from guessing his identity. Why not make a list of
your known enemies and check them off one by one?"

"Too many of 'em," retorted Simon briefly.

"Ah, yes--I should have thought of that!" A muffled snort from Jason
marked his appreciation of the seemingly ingenuous jibe. "If a man's
known by the enemies he makes, I should say this fellow was a lasting
credit to you. You'll miss him when he's gone."

"I'll miss him with pleasure. But when is he going? D'you think this
is a problem that will appeal to Mr. Creighton's critical taste?"

"It will have my hea