ite won his heart. "I would like to know both of those things."

"Well," said the detective, "my name is John Manning, and I am a native
of Chicago. I am an intimate friend of 'Tod' Duncan's, and want to know
where to find him."

"You will have to ask somebody that can tell you, then," answered King,
who had now fully recovered his composure, "for I don't know anything
about him."

"Why," ejaculated Manning, as though quite surprised at the information,
"I thought that you and Tod went off on a hunting or fishing party a
few weeks ago, and that you came home, leaving Tod to continue his
journey alone."

"That's a mistake," said King, "and whoever informed you to that effect
was as much mistaken as you are."

Mr. King was evidently trying the good-natured game of bluff, and
Manning noticed with some satisfaction that they were now approaching
very near to the office of Mr. Wallace.

"See here," said he, suddenly turning on his companion. "Mr. King, this
won't do. Duncan is wanted for the Geneva bank robbery. He was here
three weeks ago, and you were with him. You got him out of town, and if
you are not disposed to be communicative, I have simply got to place you
under arrest."

The change in King's manner was very complete. He was utterly surprised
and nonplused, and before he could answer a word Manning placed his hand
on his shoulder and said, peremptorily: "Come in here, Mr. King;
perhaps Mr. Wallace can loosen your tongue."

[Illustration: "Come in here, Mr. King; perhaps Mr. Wallace can loosen
your tongue."]

They were now directly in front of the office of the chief, and King
knew that any attempt at resistance would be futile, and decidedly
unwise, so he deemed it best to submit at once.

"Don't be too hard on a fellow," said he at last. "I have a good
position and I can't afford to lose it. If you will give me a chance, I
will tell you all I know."

"Very well, come right in here," said Manning, "and if you tell me the
truth, I promise you no harm will come to you."

In a few minutes they were closeted with the chief, who knew King very
well, and who added his assurances to those of Manning, that if he would
unburden himself fully, no danger need be apprehended.

"I want to say first," said King, at last convinced that it would be
better to make a clean breast of the whole matter, "that what I did, was
done in good faith, and I only thought I was helping a friend who had
got into trouble through