The Man Who Knew

inextricable confusion. There was a roaring babble of instruction and counter-instruction from police-men, from cab drivers, and from excited porters. Some of the passengers hurried swiftly

t-box, and a bulky hand-bag. She was among those who expected to be met at the station, for she looked helplessly at the clock and wandered from one side of the building

aced the letter in the bag, scrambled together her parcels, and walked swiftly out

y. She saw a door of a taxicab o

for heaven's sake

he cab. The owner of the voice closed the

ere ten minutes," sa

, dear, but I

t read," interrupted

and the girl, folding her hands in her lap, prepared for t

ything right," said the man. "I sup

nside the station?" she ask

with you," said the man brutally. "I've had enough troub

, but eighteen months of bullying ha

d all the time I'm in a fret as to whether you will give me away or not. I am go

a word against you,"

sake, you don't,"

s moment until the girl plucked up

ou are going to a much nicer home than you have ever

ear," said the

'dear,'" snar

a long, dull street. It was too dark for the girl to take stock of her surroundings, and she h

ted until he came opposite the house. He let down the supports of his machine, went stealthily up the steps, and flashed a lamp upon the enamel numbers over t

a man descended, telling the driver to wait. He mounted

e man who had opened the

newcomer. "What d

uncultured man, but his

want you for?" aske

he gas. His bag was on the floor. He picked it up, opened it,

ght need it," he

ark and dour. His face was lined and tanned as one who had lived for many years in a hot climate

ulled up a chai

ffer to make t

any mone

her la

kind of offer to you that hadn't mone

esitation, poured out anoth

rink to-day," he s

know what your game is in England, but I will tell you what mine is. I want a free ha

er, eh?" asked the other,

ng man

or the second time that evening, "and I am scared of her

ey gr

Mr. Brown or Jones, or whatever you call yourself, because I can't be frightened. I have had to deal with worse men than you and I'm

pounds," sai

fellow like you, who knows more about dope than any other man I have met, ought to be able to do the trick without any assistance from me. Why, didn't you tel

pt my offer?" a

shook

every day, and I have got him scared. What's a thousand pounds to me? I've lost more than a thousand on one race at Lewes. No, my boy, employ

tter," snarled the other man. "I was a fo

mild-mannered young man who goes to church in Eastbourne could be such a fierce chap in London? I've often laughed, seeing you walk past me as though bu

ly. "You are getting as much of

am going to keep my present menial job. You see, it isn't only the question of money, but I have an idea that your old

of his private papers. If he could have caught you with the goods, he would have had you long ago. I told you that the last time y

ilosophically, "but I am not su

see her," said h

shook

ur London name. No," he said, "I won't accept your suggestion, but I have got a proposition to make to you, and

d the other be

ussing the proposition, and

leasantly. He had finished the contents of the

, your guardian angel, have discovered it. You

rected the other;

ey no

t he was

him?" asked the

eet him. One of those talkative fellows who opens his heart to a uniform. I stopped him

lips, and his face

ss and rather impertinent lately, and has been

" said Crawley. "I thought you'd like to

take the gesture, dived into his pockets with a scowl an

y taxi," said Crawl

ound the girl sitting where h

," he said roughly

is he removed a tiny glass pestle and mortar, six little vials, a hypodermic syringe, and a small spirit lamp. Then from his pocket he too

in the cold dining room huddled up