o sign an armistice,
too."

"Agreed."

"And you've always been rather a puzzle to me. A rich man, a gentleman,
and yet sticking to the newspaper game."

"And you're a puzzle to me, too. A rich man, a gentleman, and yet
sticking to the banking game."

"What the devil was our row about?"

"Can't quite recall."

"Whatever it was it was the way you went at it."

"A reform was never yet accomplished by purring and pussyfooting," said
Cutty.

"Come over and sit down. Now, how the devil did you find out about this
Gregory affair?" The banker held out his hand, which Cutty grasped with
honest pressure. "If you are here in the capacity of a newspaper man,
not a word out of me. Have a cigar?"

"I never smoke anything but pipes that ruin curtains. You should have
given your name to Miss Conover."

"I was under promise not to explain my business. But before we proceed,
an answer. Newspaper?"

"No. I represent the Department of Justice. And we'll get along easier
when I add that I possess rather unlimited powers under that head. How
did you happen to stumble into this affair?"

"Through Captain Rathbone, my prospective son-in-law, who is in Coblenz.
A cable arrived this morning, instructing me to proceed precisely in the
manner I did. Rathbone is an intimate friend of the man I was actually
seeking. The apartment of this man Gregory was mentioned to Rathbone
in a cable as a possible temporary abiding place. What do you want to
know?"

"Whether or not he is undesirable."

"Decidedly, I should say, desirable."

"You make that statement as an American citizen?"

"I do. I make it unreservedly because my future son-in-law is rather
a difficult man to make friends with. I am acting merely as Rathbone's
agent. On the other hand, I should be a cheerful liar if I told you I
wasn't interested. What do you know?"

"Everything," answered Cutty, quietly.

"You know where this young man is?"

"At this moment he is in my apartment, rather seriously battered and
absolutely penniless."

"Well, I'll be tinker-dammed! You know who he is, of course?"

"Yes. And I want all your information so that I may guide my future
actions accordingly. If he is really undesirable he shall be deported
the moment he can stand on his two feet."

The banker pyramided his fingers, rather pleased to learn that he could
astonish this interesting beggar. "He has on account at my bank half
a million dollars. Originally he had eight hundred thou