Could it be possible? He had had no orders about
talking to this man, but--Perhaps he was going to give it up! And
with this idea he accelerated his pace and crossed the street.

"Oh, Mr. Claflin, will you step in just a moment, please?" requested
Mr. Wynne courteously.

"Why?" demanded the detective suspiciously.

"There's a matter I want to discuss with you," responded Mr. Wynne.
"It may be that we can reach some sort of--of an agreement about
this, and if you don't mind--"

Claflin went up the steps, Mr. Wynne ushered him in and closed the
door behind him.

Three minutes later Mr. Wynne appeared on the steps again and
beckoned to Sutton, who had just witnessed the incident just
preceding, and was positively being eaten by curiosity.

"This is Mr. Sutton, isn't it?" inquired Mr. Wynne.

"Yes, that's me."

"Well, Mr. Claflin and I are discussing this matter, and my
proposition to him was such that he felt if must be made in your
presence. Would you mind stepping inside for a moment?"

"You and the girl decided to give it up?" queried Mr. Sutton
triumphantly.

"We are just discussing the matter now," was the answer.

Sutton went up the steps and disappeared inside.

And about four minutes after that Mr. Wynne stood in the hallway,
puffing a little as he readjusted his necktie. He picked up his hat,
drew on his gloves and then rapped on the door of the back parlor.
Miss Kellner appeared.

"We will go now," said Mr. Wynne quietly.

"But is it safe, Gene?" she asked quickly.

"Perfectly safe, yes. There's no danger of being followed if we go
immediately."

She gazed at him wonderingly, then followed him to the door. He
opened it and she passed out, glancing around curiously. For one
instant he paused, and there came a clatter and clamor from somewhere
in the rear of the house. He closed the door with a grim smile.

"Which are the detectives?" asked Miss Kellner, in an awed whisper.

"I don't see them around just now," he replied. "We can get a cab at
the corner."

CHAPTER XII

THE THIRD DEGREE

Some years ago a famous head of the police department clearly
demonstrated the superiority of a knock-out blow, frequently
administered, as against moral suasion, and from that moment the
"third degree" became an institution. Whatever sort of criticism
may be made of the "third degree," it is, nevertheless, amazingly
effective, and beyond that, affords infinite satisfaction to the
adminis