he mysterious note I had received the preceding night came on me

you. The money will be ready in the

re was the first chance to get at the heart of this dreadful business. The writer of the note, I must suppose, was the mysteriou

England home, and the Anglo-Californian Bank, on which I held a draft. The former struck me as the more likely place of appointment, and after some sk

f the treasure-house, and assumed what I hoped was a

autious men, and men who looked secure and men who looke

this chance of penetrating the mystery was gone. I speculated for the moment on what the effects might be. To neglect an order of this kind might result in the w

granite building in Pine Street; a whirlpool of men, it seemed, with cros

ked, won and lost, and ruin and affluence walked side by side. As I watched t

the firm lines of the mouth, with the mark of the wolf strong upon the whole. It was a face never to be forgotten as long as I should hold memory at all. It was the face I had seen twelve hours before in the lantern flash in the dreadful alley, with the cry of murder ringing in my

ghbor by the arm, and dem

llar deal now, and if I could only guess which side he's on, I'd

amazement there was a look of recognition in them. Yet he made no sign, and in a moment was gone. This, then, was the enemy I was to meet! Th

busy street, for I was roused by

aid the man, speaking in

aid I, rousin

u." His voice was l

?" I jumped to the conclusion that it was, of cours

t. In the second

Doubtless, however, it was a s

w you," sai

messenger dubiously. "He didn't say anyt

I cut in decisivel

im at that moment if

a few step

s I could assume. My heart was beating fast. I felt that I was close to the mystery and that the next half-hour wou

gomery Street into an office building, up a

is hand on the door knob. "On second

eps echoed down the stair I opene

d short. Before me sat Doddridge Knapp, the King of the Street, the

ning his name to a paper on

to command. But I could find no trace of feeling in it, nothing that could tell me of the hatred or

the door and sit down. Just spring that

ly that he might be interrupted in what Bret Harte would cal

ose view than at long range. The strong face

so I've come back to you." The voice was oily and persuasive, but the keen gray e

I said, swallowing my ast

ectly satisfactory; but I'll tell you that it's on Mrs. Knapp's say

politely. I was in deep waters. It was

with her at your next cal

had been settled by shelving both Hayes and Tilden and giving the unanimous vote of the electors to me, I should have accepted it as a

lton, but to some one else who resembled him. There were enough differences in features and voice to distinguish us among in

face to face. I don't want to trust messengers on this affair

ot been close

e that other cipher yet,

it," I said

to take risks. Of course you understand th

y not," I

s Room 15. I have the key to 17, and 16 is vacant between with a

ctly,"

r your orders. If you get none by twe

as off my guard for a moment, thinking of the

heavy eyebrows came down, and from under them flashed a dangerous light. "You will be there when I tell you, young man, or you'll have to reckon with ano

id with assumed confidence.

what

, I should have supposed that his mind was concentrated on the apparent object before h

am I to do

ot too much under cover. You can pick your own brokers. Better begin with Bockstein and Eppner, though. Your checks will

for he shoved a handful of twenty-dollar gold piec

ed, "I don't think I hav

eplied with pr

l turn it into the bank for your identifica

hing

nod of dismissal. "Maybe it's

t, bewildered among the conflicting my