r I may meet them."

There followed a moment's silence, and then the visitor said:

"My friend, you had better not attempt to draw a weapon on me; in plain
language I am an officer. I have reason to know that you are a fraud; do
not attempt any 'bluff' on me, for I've been on your track for two
weeks; but I'll give you a chance."

Jack, as our readers know, was perfectly cool. He enjoyed the
scene--enjoyed it hugely--and he said:

"You will give me a chance?"

"I will, a good chance."

"Thank you."

"But you must earn the chance."

"Oh, I must earn it?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"'Squeak;' I am on to your whole game; you are playing the peddler and
locating, and the gang, on your information, work the houses afterward."

"A nice game, ain't it?"

"Yes, a very nice game."

"Why do you wish to interfere with such a nice game?"

"It's my duty to do so."

"Oh, that's it?"

"Yes."

"You have another duty to perform."

"I am not taking instructions."

"But I am giving you instructions, all the same. Now get out of here and
don't stand on the order of your going, but just 'git.' Do you
understand that?"

The visitor rose, when Jack suddenly seized a pillow from his bed and
dealt the man a tremendous rap over the head. The pillow burst and the
bran poured down over the man's face and eyes, and in the meantime Jack
seized the man's weapon, and then seizing a second pillow gave him a
second succession of raps until the man was blinded, and finally ceasing
the detective sat down and watched his man clean his eyes and ears, and
after a little coolly said:

"Go to the wash basin there, old man, and wash out the horse feed."

The man managed to find the basin and obeyed, and when his eyes were
cleaned he looked and beheld our hero sitting there with a broad smile
on his face.

"Do you know what you have done?" demanded the man.

"What have I done?"

"If you have committed no other crime, you have assailed an officer of
the law in the performance of his duty."

"I am not sorry I've taught an officer of the law a lesson; I suppose
you claim to be a detective?"

"I do."

"You so claim?"

"Yes."

"Well, old man, I _am_ a detective, and even you know how a real
detective goes about it. Where are you from?"

"Newark."

"Better get back to Newark as quick as you can or I will give this whole
business away."

"Who are you?"

"I've told you _I am_ a detective, and I don't do my business by
splurges.