s always dealing in
futures--banking his favours here and there and drawing checks against
them when needed.

Then he tackled his men and issued orders suspending operations
temporarily. He was asked what they should do in case Karlov came out
into the open. He answered in such an event not to molest him but to
watch and take note of those with whom he associated. There were big
things in the air, and only he himself had hold of all the threads. He
relayed this information to the actual chief of the local service, from
whom he had borrowed his men. There was no protest. Green spectacles.

Quarter to nine he and Kitty entered a subway car and found a corner to
themselves, while Karlov's agent was content with a strap in the crowded
end of the car.

Karlov for once had outthought Cutty. He had withdrawn his watchers,
confident that after a day or so his unknown opponent would withdraw
his. During the lull Karlov matured his plans, then resumed operations,
calculating that he would have some forty-odd hours' leeway.

His agent was clever. He had followed Kitty from Eightieth Street to
the Knickerbocker Hotel. There he had lost her. He had loitered on
the sidewalk until midnight, and was then convinced that the girl had
slipped by. So he had returned to Eightieth Street; but as late as five
in the morning she had not returned.

This agent had followed the banker after his visit to Kitty. He had
watched the banker's house, seen Cutty arrive and depart. Taking a
chance shot in the dark, he had followed Cutty to the office building,
learned that Cutty was the owner and lived in the loft. As Kitty had not
returned home by five he proceeded to take a second chance shot in the
dark, stationing himself across the street from the entrance to the
office building, thereby solving the riddle uppermost in Karlov's mind.
He had found the man in the dress suit.

"Cutty, I'm sorry I was such a booby last night. But it was the best
thing that could have happened. The pentupness of it was simply killing
me. I hadn't any one to come to but you--any one who would understand.
I don't know of any man who has a better right to kiss me. I know. You
were just trying to buck me up."

Clitter-clatter! Clitter-clatter! Cutty stared hard at the cement floor.
Marry her, settle a sum on her, and give her her freedom. Molly's girl.
Give her a chance to play. He turned.

"Kitty, do you trust me?"

"Of all the foolish questions!" She pressed his