Midnight

y gesture of nervousness, however slight-escaped Carroll's attention; but with all his watc

erform miracles. People had a way of talking freely to Carroll after he had chatted with them awhile, no matter how bitter the hostility surrounding their first meeting. Carroll was that way-he was a student of practical every-day psychology. He worked to one end-he en

truth sounds untrue, while the lies carry all the earmarks of honesty. It's a sheer guess on the part of any detective. What I

are important," argued the

ve. I'd rather have a suspect talk freely and never tell th

ressive of his opinion of Car

sense," said he; "but i

t away with it if you lo

ss was still there, true; but it seemed tinged with an attitude which was part friendliness toward Carroll and part contempt for his

the ring of truth about it. It mattered not whether Barker had an iron of his own in the fire-it mattered not what else he said which w

ne thing, it established the theory that he had been planning an elopement with the woman in the taxicab. That being the

statement. Instead, he smiled genially, a sort of be

vil with 'em,

arroll! What he didn't know about wome

ied o

was a speciali

sip we've been hearing

of caution showed

ust what you've

is love affairs-with women w

r shr

s have a way of lyin' about women that way, even where they'll tell the truth about every

ing or two you

ushed with

's pet jackass, whe

hypnotic-"of course you know who the woman i

kno

rt and choked back the words. Leverage, leaning forward in tense eagerness-knowing t

e hell are yo

anger-or else that it had passed unnoticed. "I just figured that you, having b

ussin' his lady friends with me

; but you know, of c

kind. Say, what are you tryin'

hould I be interested

was s

od to-er-trip you up. All I want is whatever knowledge y

yes narrowe

o suspicions you

ions of

ame in the

aughed in

, I wouldn't be seated

waldemar. His outward calmness exasperated Leverage. From this point of the interview, the chief of police would have dropped the attitude of trustful friendlin

ery of his sunny gaze upon the chief of police and nodded reassuringly. The effect was instantaneous. Leverage's t

one who don't know who t

as planning to

ook his he

the city for good, if

myself. What interests me is this-was

d when he did answer it was patent t

'm not sayin' he wasn't; but then again I ain't sayin'

evasion. "What I don't understand is this-when Mr. Warren was pub

smile creased his lips. "Miss Gresham-her he was engaged to! Dog-go

t na

zy about than stand up in a church and get married. They're sort of romantic." Barker was waxing loquacious. "You know, you mu

can't understand, Barker, and what you might help me figu

easy, will you? I nev

sure that he had not; but he was also sure that Barker thought he had. And Barker was volunteering information-plenty of it-that was a

ve been jealous of h

ous there ain't much sayin' what she wouldn't do. Not that I'm sayin' Miss Gresham croaked him. I ain't sayin' nothin' positive; but if you're askin' me who

ll no

He paused, and then: "Where wer

ly, and his eyebrows drew down over the dee

ting

-hu

he

lly's

e is

flushed, and then

press

ose to the Union

so cl

how far

momentary

a half-

re shooting

as! I c'n

inned dise

hat I'm suspecting you of anything. I had to talk matters over with you. You knew more about the dead m

rinned s

as for me bein' a woman-well, you're

ged for all the information you've given me. Any time you run across any

one was almost hearty. "

l-a regula

rted. Carroll spoke to

ed curtly. "I'll send Reed up to team with you.

bed into the former's car. As they rounded the corner, L

rro

es

at the

w s

llow that bird'

t," answered

innocent look of yours. Me, if I was wantin' to play

hy

erage positively, "I t

n's m

refused to become

. What do

k that Mr. William Barker knows a great d