eman a slant glance out of
eyes of Irish brown. It was not Nora's fault that she was as pretty a
colleen as ever came out of Limerick, but there was no law that made
her send such a roguish come-hither look at the man in blue.

He beamed. He was as pleased as a cat that has been stroked and fed
cream.

"Well, an' yuh 're not the only wan that notices, Miss Nora. I'm a
noticin' lad mesilf. An' it's the truth that I'd be glad enough to
meet yuh some fine evenin' when I'm off duty. But about this
strong-arm guy that tied up the janitor. The Swede says he went into
wan av these houses. Now here's the wet color from his suit that ran
over the steps. He musta come up here."

"Before he ran down the street. Sure, an' that's just what he done.
Yuh're a janious, officer."

"Maybe he got into the house somehow."

"Now, how could he do that? With all av us upstairs and down."

"I don't say he did. But if I was to just take a look inside so as to
report that I'd searched--"

"Och! Yuh 'd be wastin' your time, officer."

"Sure, I know that. But for the report--"

The young woman in the riding costume chose this moment to open the
door and saunter out.

"Does the officer want something, Nora?" she asked innocently,
switching the end of a crop against her riding-boots.

"Yes, Miss. There's been a ruffian batin' up Swedes an' tyin' 'em to
posts. This officer thinks he came here," explained Nora.

"Does he want to look in the house?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Then let him come in." The young mistress took the responsibility on
her own shoulders. She led the policeman into the hall. "I don't
really see how he could have got in here without some of us seeing him,
officer."

"No, ma'am. I don't see how he could." The patrolman scratched his
red head. "The janitor's a Swede, anyhow. He jist guessed it. I came
to make sure av it. I'll be sorry for troubling yuh, Miss."

The smile she gave him was warm and friendly. "Oh, that's all right.
If you'd care to look around. . . . But there really is no use."

"No." The forehead under the red thatch wrinkled in thought. "He said
he seen him come in here or next door, an' he came up the steps. But
nobody could have got in without some of youse seein' him. That's a
lead pipe." The officer pushed any doubt that remained from his mind.
"Only a muddle-headed Swede."

"It was good of you to come. It makes us feel safer to have officers
like you. If you'll giv