sitate to exert that power over him.

"Collins didn't leave the house until to-day," the detective explained.
"But he broke loose this afternoon when he learned that his
brother-in-law's bank had busted and that all his money is tied up in
the failure. He was drunk when he left the house and the chances are
he'll be more intoxicated when he drops in here."

"But if it ever gets out that I acted as police agent I'd be shunned by
everybody I know," growled Cooper.

"It will never get out," the other promised. "You needn't have a bit of
fear."

The shadows in the room lengthened until it was difficult to distinguish
the various objects scattered about the place. The few members that had
dropped into the club faded into dark images barely discernible in their
broad leather chairs. Then, of a sudden, the lights were switched on.
The sharp rays that spread from the clusters of electric lamps revealed
a man's figure outlined in the doorway. His eyes traveled about the room
as if imploring a nod of recognition, but none was vouchsafed him.

"Collins!" exclaimed Cooper in an undertone.

"Get him!" commanded Fanwell. "Remember, I'm a relation of yours--from
the West!"

Hiding his reluctancy, Cooper left his seat and advanced toward the
doorway.

"Hello, George!" He extended a hand in greeting.

An expression of drunken amazement overspread Collins's dissipated face.
He came forward, almost falling on the other man's shoulders.

"Hello, Tom!" he returned the greeting. "Glad there's one man that ain't
ashamed to talk to me. Just look at 'em around here! They act as if they
didn't know me. That's a hell of a way to treat a good fellow like me,
now ain't it? Just because my name's been in the newspapers!"

Cooper led his friend toward the window.

"Glad to have you join me," he said. "I've got a distant relation
here--just in from the West. Wants to see the town."

"Rotten town!" growled Collins. "And the people in it--worse! You're the
only good fellow, Tom, I've met all afternoon. Everybody else looked at
me like I had a knife out for 'em. Had to drink alone every place I
went."

Mr. Fanwell greeted the newcomer cordially, bestowing on him a smile so
ingratiating as to put Collins immediately at ease.

"You've probably read a bit about Collins in the papers lately,"
remarked Cooper.

"Not the Mr. Collins mentioned in connection with the Whitmore case?"
asked the detective innocently.

"Yes, that's me!" mumbled