parent doubt. Abruptly, then, he smiled
acquiescence.

"Seems reasonable," he admitted.

But the father strode to his son.

"No, no, Dick," he cried. "You shall not go! You shall not go!"

Burke, however, shook his head in remonstrance against Gilder's plea.
His huge voice came booming, weightily impressive.

"Why not?" he questioned. "It's a fair gamble. And, besides, I like the
boy's nerve."

Dick seized on the admission eagerly.

"And you'll agree?" he cried.

"Yes, I'll agree," the Inspector answered.

"Thank you," Dick said quietly.

But the father was not content. On the contrary, he went toward the two
hurriedly, with a gesture of reproval.

"You shall not go, Dick," he declared, imperiously.

The Inspector shot a word of warning to Gilder in an aside that Dick
could not hear.

"Keep still," he replied. "It's all right."

Dick went on speaking with a seriousness suited to the magnitude of his
interests.

"You give me your word, Inspector," he said, "that you won't notify the
police in Chicago until I've been there twenty-four hours?"

"You're on," Burke replied genially. "They won't get a whisper out of me
until the time is up." He swung about to face the father, and there
was a complete change in his manner. "Now, then, Mr. Gilder," he said
briskly, "I want to talk to you about another little matter----"

Dick caught the suggestion, and interrupted quickly.

"Then I'll go." He smiled rather wanly at his father. "You know, Dad,
I'm sorry, but I've got to do what I think is the right thing."

Burke helped to save the situation from the growing tenseness.

"Sure," he cried heartily; "sure you have. That's the best any of us can
do." He watched keenly as the young man went out of the room. It was not
until the door was closed after Dick that he spoke. Then he dropped to a
seat on the couch, and proceeded to make his confidences to the magnate.

"He'll go to Chicago in the morning, you think, don't you?"

"Certainly," Gilder answered. "But I don't like it."

Burke slapped his leg with an enthusiasm that might have broken a weaker
member.

"Best thing that could have happened!" he vociferated. And then, as
Gilder regarded him in astonishment, he added, chuckling: "You see, he
won't find her there."

"Why do you think that?" Gilder demanded, greatly puzzled.

Burke permitted himself the luxury of laughing appreciatively a moment
more before making his exclamation. Then he said quietly: