he snapped, gripping the operative by the sleeve.
"Make yourself clear! We have no time to waste in this matter!"

Delaney gulped and whispered. "It's this way. I follows the girl until
she turns around the corner where there is an all-night drug-store. She
was in a telephone-booth when I came up and looked through the window.
She was trying to get a number. While she's trying, a taxi rushes up
and out jumps a lad in a long benny. He pays the driver with a bill and
hurries past me and into the drug-store. I gets a good look at him.
He's about twenty-three years old, blonde hair and tall----"

"Tall?"

"He was five feet eleven, Chief. I'd say that to be safe. The uniform
he wore under the benny was olive-drab with bars on his shoulder. He
took the overcoat off--afterwards."

"How many bars?"

"Two, Chief."

"That's good!" exclaimed Drew with sudden vigor. "Good!"

"The girl," went on Delaney, "was 'phoning for him. She dropped the
receiver when she heard him come in. She had the party she
wanted--right there. Good deduction--that is!"

The Detective snorted. "Go on," he said with a faint frown.

"Sure it was! Well, I moves over and starts puttin' a penny in the
slot-machine outside the drug-store. The machine didn't work very well
on account of the snow. I'm a long time gettin' my piece of
chewin'-gum. I sees them talking in the drug-store. His coat is off
'cause it's warm inside. He had an officer's uniform on."

"One bar or two?"

"Two bars on his shoulder, Chief."

"Captain, then. Go on."

"He's a tall lad with thick lips and wide-blue eyes. He's straight as a
pike-staff and good lookin'--for a blonde."

"Looks German?"

"Not so I could notice! Seemed to be a bit of a swell. Had gloves and a
high-class wrist watch. I hate them things."

Drew smiled. "Hurry," he said. "Don't take too long. What happened?
What about the smoke-wagon?"

"I'm comin' to it, Chief. They moves over to the drug-case. They chins
some more. Then he blows her to a soda--a cherry sundae."

Drew rubbed the glass at his side and started out. He swept the mansion
with swift-running eyes. He turned.

"They were sweet--them two," went on Delaney with thought. "I deducts
they'd known each other a long while."

"Quit your deducting. Get to facts!"

"Well, Chief, he ups and gives the drug-store the once over with sharp
looks. Then he handed her a little, flat box which she pops into her
muff--quick as any shop-hister. It was as