The Crime Club

to tell Westerham that he was

et with, he still felt himself to be, as Melun had said, a strong man. And when he came to

n's. But, for all that, did he really hold the upper hand? As he impart

prey to the worst blackmail of all-a species of blackmail of the heart. On every hand, and at every turn, no matter in what direction he might st

en that loss bravely could it have brought any peace to the hunted girl's mind. But he realised that to relinquis

go on in the blind hope that he could find something which would

y to follow. It was ridiculous to think that, in spite of his handicap

fter plan of campaign. But all of them, as he pored over their possibilities, seemed to avail him nothing, and

was by no means dealing honestly with his fellow criminals, he would be able by a little astute m

With an almost boyish delight he immediately set to work to

bered that the day was Thursday, the day on the evening of which Melu

ed that he would go t

than Melun had ever been called on to handle. He laughed as he thought of the possibilities

hat if the mills of Scotland Yard, like the mills of God

ut, none the less, it is sufficiently disconcerting to find that the large boots follow o

terest of the authorities that they would do their

he East End. Never in his life had he feared any man, nor had he ever before been compelled to fac

r to some extent tickled his fancy; he resolved to try his 'prentice hand

or that night at least. Rookley had practically told Sir Paul th

ly; he satisfied himself, however, that whatever the man might

he strongly suspected that Bruton Street was at that moment being watched. Casually, and without the slightest demonstration of

a taxicab. Into this he jumped as soon as it arr

n, Westerham convinced himself that even had he been pu

ighting there, he walked to South Kensington, where he again took t

and plunging through a maze of little streets c

ng briskly down it, came to the little space where the t

llected Melun's peculiar rap. So three times he knocked slowly, and

ce, and the hideous face of the negro he had treated

for Melun, and when he saw that Westerham stood th

d thrust his heavy-booted foot into the

m roundly and deman

esterham, quietly,

oor, and Westerham, entering the passag

e by Captain Melun and properly introduced, if such is the term you use. And my affairs at the

gave him a

Melun send yo

terham, sharply. "Lead the way. I shal

hat do you take me for? A 'tec'? If I were, do you think I should be

e thought him an ass in any case, but he l

med that the negro purposely made no disturbance in order th

stimation of the conf

stle table was in the centre of the room, and at one end of it sat the bullet-headed

row, too, who was

ham with starting eyes. The other men followed his

hawk-like nose and the large, brut

watch the sensation caused by Westerham's entranc

, hard voice, cr

jumped from their seats and put their backs against the door. As they stood there they drew their knives, and on ta

lvers, but Crow caught their ac

"put those barkers away.

the men

which suggested he had no doubt that his instructions wo

own to the table to the place which had been vacated by the bullet-headed man, a

along the lines of vicious faces un

"that after my introduction the other night

istake. We had no desire to see you then, much

ot!" blared the b

he men came murmur

also of considerable interest to myself, as it proves that you act independently

his right, rising from his seat and bring

ooking the man straight

Smith!" s

an sa

t you into this business for no good so far as we are concerned, and we do not propose that matters should go any further

terham, who was st

ou are a cool hand, Mr. Robinson, but we are just as cool. This sp

laughed coarsely, whil

f money in its time, but it seems to us-we were just discussing the matter t

pals brought any grist to our mill, and w

e never set eyes on, and, according to Melun, we pay them a pretty rate of interest for our share of the work, but that is neither here nor there. W

rotesting hand, but

ever since your arrival. Melun has practically never been near us so that we have been left to ou

d a jarri

ck at much; and it may be that you have in that clever head a thousand

o himself. You are too much class for us. We don't suit your book, and so we ca

table, the men nodde

ady. We did not go looking after you to interfere with your pleasures, which probably are a dea

o, and why should you? It's more than we can stand

s," he said, "you had better let me inform you that if I found the

nishment at his audacity. Crow

eauty? I don't t

n a six-shooter from his po

r himself as to act foolishly he knew that Crow would not fire.

is hands up, he folded t

quietly, "until you explain p

kept it on the table. He eve

said, "and as your number's up, and dead men tell

to imitate Westerham's cool, off-hand way o

enough, with pretty fixed rules-rules which, if

f anyone who offends us

in London except the members of this club know that there are two entrances. We

st as easy, and, with the clothes off you, and with a good lead weight on your feet

erham with a fixe

ands still folded placidly on

"to congratulate you on a very pretty little programme-but a prog

e table towards Westerham, "are you a cop

m their seats and looked

Westerham's admira

he door,"

opened the door leading into a little porch; through this they went

came back shaki

" said Crow. "Searc

nce which now prevailed their footsteps could be hea

eported that ever

ut, all the same, you had

once more and close

ham, "just bluff. But you cannot come blu

was still the face of a man who i

grinning at?

o to me, it struck me as being rather funny that one ma

pped the handle

lised that while the men were posted at either end of the canal-path

nsiderably. As a matter of fact, I do not happen to be an American-not that that makes very much d

say that it is a tale of breach of faith-of a breach of faith c

ooked at

mber," said Westerham, slowly

men broke out into volleys of cursing; b

e said. "Is it news to you that the price I offered for his service

xclaimed, and then sat

men were too ast

liar!" sh

ve every intention, provided that Melun holds good to his promise, of handing him over that

exclaimed

esterham, "but you

his breast and pull

ve the sum of ten thou

he flung them care

azement that they could do nothing

you that I have not the slightest intention of handing those notes

he precaution of informing the bank that all these notes have been lost. I can well afford

s!" said Cro

as ever, "I hope that this, to some e

e men nodd

, "I will take it for granted that you ar

engaged in a deal of the most stupendous proportions. He has mention

y continued to stare at him open-mouthed, remain

satisfaction that he was evidently mu

aptain Melun in this enterprise. I really believe that they don't even know what the enterprise is. But there is an exce

saw that Crow's face

uition proved

d pointing an accusing finger at

lie! It is only a matter of ten tho

followed Westerham l

you if ever a man more completely con

nger turned and s

ile the men, with curses, sho

the sound they saw Melun, smiling and pleasant-looking as ever, pounding on the

silence

ll of you. Be quiet at once. We have been betra

n to Westerham. But the power of their old allegiance held good, and before

slightest attempt to struggle. He had been in similar predicamen

elease himself the men partially relaxed their hold of hi

he head of the long table, and was rapping

e," he said. "The rest of y

instructions hastily

, Melun looked down their ranks