aimed, as we came into view of the huge
heating apparatus. "And there's more coal."

A man stepped out from behind the furnace, and confronted us. A red
bandana covered the lower part of his face and his hat was pulled down
over his eyes. But I recognized him instantly. It was the fellow with
the villainous pipe! Something glittered ominously at the end of his
outstretched arm.

"If you make any noise, sir, I'll have to plug you, sir," he said in
polite but muffled tones.

The candle slipped from my fingers, and the three of us stood in
darkness!

V

There was a clicking sound, and the glare of a dark-lantern struck my
blinking eyes.

"Pick up the candle, sir," said the tranquil voice from behind the
light.

I obeyed readily enough. Fate was downright cruel to us. Not a dozen
feet away was liberty; and now we were back at the beginning again,
with the end nowhere in sight.

"Shall I light it, sir?" I asked, not to be outdone in the matter of
formal politeness.

"Yes, sir, doubtless you will need it."

I struck a match and touched the candle-wick.

"Burglar?" said I. (For all my apparent coolness, my heart-beats were
away up in the eighties!)

The girl snuggled close to my side. I could feel her heart beating
even faster than mine.

"Burglar?" I repeated.

"Indeed, no, sir,"--reproachfully. "Mine is a political job."

"A political job?"--thunderstruck.

"Yes, sir; I am an inspector of cellars,"--grimly. "I couldn't get
around to this here cellar earlier in the day, sir, and a fellow's work
_must_ be done."

Here was a burglar with the sense of humor.

"What can I do for you?" I asked blandly.

"Firstly, as they say, you might tell me what you and this lady _are_
doing in this lonesome cellar."

"Say 'sir,' when you address me."

"Yes, sir."

"The lady and I were playing hide-and-seek."

"Nice game, sir,"--grinning. "Were you trying to hide under the coal?"

"Oh, no; I was merely exploring it."

"Say 'sir,' when you address me."

"Sir."

"You're a cool hand, sir."

"I am gratified to learn that our admiration is mutual. But what are
_you_ doing here?"

"I was ascertaining if the law was properly observed, sir," shaking
with silent laughter.

"But what puzzles me," I went on, "is the fact that you could gather
the gems in that garb." For I was positive that this was the Galloping
Dick every one was looking for.

"I don't understand a word you say, sir. I'm