she went on with increasing animation, "and only yesterday he went down
to Police Headquarters, just for a little excitement, 'cause Jim does
sure hate a dull life. Say, he told me they've got a mat at the
door with 'Welcome' on it--in letters three feet high. Now,
what--do--you--think--of that!" Aggie teetered joyously, the while
she inhaled a shockingly large mouthful of smoke. "And, oh, yes!"
she continued happily, "Jim, he lifted a leather from a bull who was
standing in the hallway there at Headquarters! Jim sure does love
excitement."

Mary lifted her dark eyebrows in half-amused inquiry.

"It's no use, Agnes," she declared, though without entire sincerity; "I
can't quite keep up with your thieves' argot--your slang, you know. Just
what did this brother of yours do?"

"Why, he copped the copper's kale," Aggie translated, glibly.

Mary threw out her hands in a gesture of dismay.

Thereupon, the adventuress instantly assumed a most ladylike and mincing
air which ill assorted with the cigarette that she held between her
lips.

"He gently removed a leathern wallet," she said sedately, "containing
a large sum of money from the coat pocket of a member of the detective
force." The elegance of utterance was inimitably done. But in the next
instant, the ordinary vulgarity of enunciation was in full play again.
"Oh, Gee!" she cried gaily. "He says Inspector Burke's got a gold watch
that weighs a ton, an' all set with diamon's!--which was give to 'im
by--admirin' friends!... We didn't contribute."

"Given to him," Mary corrected, with a tolerant smile.

Aggie sniffed once again.

"What difference does it make?" she demanded, scornfully. "He's got it,
ain't he?" And then she added with avaricious intensity: "Just as soon
as I get time, I'm goin' after that watch--believe me!"

Mary shook her head in denial.

"No, you are not," she said, calmly. "You are under my orders now. And
as long as you are working with us, you will break no laws."

"But I can't see----" Aggie began to argue with the petulance of a
spoiled child.

Mary's voice came with a certainty of conviction born of fact.

"When you were working alone," she said gravely, did you have a home
like this?"

"No," was the answer, spoken a little rebelliously.

"Or such clothes? Most of all, did you have safety from the police?"

"No," Aggie admitted, somewhat more responsively. "But, just the same, I
can't see----"

Mary began putting on her glov