out you. Said you'd got
kind of a rap across the knuckles on that Stanwick job."

"We must all expect setbacks now and then," replied the investigator,
smoothly. "I get mine with more or less regularity."

The captain of detectives laughed loudly; his mirth came over the wire
in booming flares of pleasure.

"That's so," said he, "we all get it." There was an instant's pause,
then he added: "Anything I can do for you?"

"I wanted to ask about any cracksmen who might be in town at this time,"
said the investigator.

"There's a few," replied Devlin. "What's the name of the party you
want?"

"I have no name. But I can give you some details of description. He's
cautious in his habits--goes about his work carefully. He's small and
has large feet."

"That won't fit any one I know," said the other. "There is no regular
burglar hereabouts just now who is what you'd call small. But the other
two counts--being cautious and having big feet--would fit Big Slim."

"Ah!" Scanlon saw Ashton-Kirk's eyes snap. "Big Slim! I take it that he
is a tall man, lightly built."

"That's right," answered Devlin. "A regular slat."

"Have you any idea where he could be found?"

"He's often seen at Duke Sheehan's, on Claridge Street. That's a kind of
hang-up for him." Then, with a note of interest in his voice, the
captain of detectives added: "Got anything on him?"

"I don't know," replied Ashton-Kirk. "I'll be able to tell better in a
day or two."

After a few general remarks he hung up the receiver, turned toward
Scanlon and told him of what Devlin had said.

But Bat continued to look puzzled.

"You asked for a cautious crook who was small and had big feet. Where
did you get all that?"

"The fact that he wore 'creepers' showed that he wasn't a man to take
unnecessary chances. The impressions on the sod at Stanwick were quite
faint; that indicated a light man, and so I thought of him as being
small. However, a tall man of frail build would make about the same sort
of a footprint; and in his case the large size of the feet is more
easily accounted for."

"I get you," said Bat. He arose to his feet, the fresh cigar held
between his teeth, and walked up and down the room. Ashton-Kirk leaned
against a corner of the table, and watched him with observant eyes. And,
finally, as the big man continued to tramp up and down in silence, the
investigator said, quietly:

"There are some things in this whole matter which make you uneasy. I