e. With some care one is safe in using it in an ordinary ammonia
gun--the sort policemen use on mad dogs. Forgive me, if I say that you
have demonstrated its utility in peace as well as in war. If there were
more high-jackers in the world the device might be commercialized at
some profit; but, alas, my good Mallow, your profession is not a common
one."

"Cut out the kidding," Mallow growled, then he fell into a new
convulsion of coughing. The car proceeded for some time to the tune of
smothered complaints from the miserable figures bouncing upon the rear
seat before Gray said: "I fear you are a selfish pair of rascals. Have
you no concern regarding the fate of the third member of your
treasure-hunting trio?" Evidently they had none. "Too bad! It's a good
story."

Whatever their indifference to the welfare of the chauffeur, they still
had some curiosity as to their own, for Mallow asked:

"What are you going to do with us?"

"What would you do, if you were in my place?"

"I'd--listen to reason."

"Meaning--?"

"Hell! You know what he means," Tony cried, feebly.

"So! You do me the honor to offer a bribe." Gray laughed. "Pardon my
amusement. It sounds callous, I know, but, frankly, your unhappy
condition fails to distress me. Well, how much do you offer?"

"All we got. A coupla thousand."

"A temptation, truly."

Mallow addressed his companion irritably. "Have a little sense. He
don't need money."

Calvin Gray had never been more pleased with himself than now, for
matters had worked out almost exactly according to plan, a compliment
indeed to his foresight and to his executive ability. He loved
excitement, he lived upon it, and much of his life had been devoted to
the stage-management of sensational exploits like this one. As a boy
plays with a toy, so did Gray amuse himself with adventure, and now he
was determined to exact from this one the last particle of enjoyment
and whatever profit it afforded.

Within a few minutes of his arrival at Ranger, the town was noisy with
the story, for he drove down the brightly lighted main street and
stopped in front of the most populous cafe. There he called loudly for
a policeman, and when the latter elbowed his way through the crowd,
Gray told him, in plain hearing of all, enough of his experience to
electrify everybody. He told the story well; he even made known the
value of his diamond stock; mercilessly he pilloried the two
blindfolded bandits. When he drove to