e way of amateur theatricals?" Ashton Sanbo

it bewildered. "I've been in the Silve

seemed irrelevant. He was leaning back in his chair now, surveying the ceilin

as holid

ork for me for a few days. I suppose I can reach

ng trip. He's on Mr. Bolton's yacht, somewhere off

licates matters. Who, may I ask, is lookin

wn sweet self, sir." Do

e responsibility for yo

may-if you

rtain assurance about this girl's manner, a steely quality that came somet

ould impersonate yo

r surprise. "We look exactly alike

is a rather meek and demure young lady. Remember, that in order to convince anyone who knows her you would ha

cat-if you ask m

of pained acceptance. "But nobody did ask you, darling, so in future when your betters are conversing, be good enough to button up that lip of your

oward. "Her voice is always like th

air, Howard? Is

rs it bobbed

, "that you want to smuggle me into the

t want you to make your decision until I explain my plan in de

, after all she's been through and from what Howard has told us, is bound to flop once she gets to Dr. Win

out bringing you into the picture, Dorothy, if it were not for one thing. These men who hold Janet in their custody are in s

mber 1 of the gang!" ventur

ational organization. Their treatment of Janet is concrete evidence of their cold-blooded ruthlessness when they believe their plans to be in jeopardy. If you take your

adily. "Naturally, I'm sorry for Janet and I want to help her. The o

u that this job will be c

ven't told us all you know about thes

hat is neither here nor there just now. By the way,

part of the course I'm t

he New Canaan Bank robbery, the affair of the Mystery Plane and the Conway C

ess. "Them kind words is a great comfort to a po

carry you up to Ridgefield in her place, just being Janet Jordan, who never woke up when she was sleepwalking last week will be your b

-to identify the deceased! No thank you. If the gun is out of orders, Flash will have to go. O

bout, Dorothy?" Ashton

g a dog along if that's you

dly. "Flash and I have got very clubby this fall. He's rea

d Bill, "is how certain females ca

She tossed him a macaroon from a plate on the table. "Go over to that bedroom door

sed Ashton Sanborn. "This is n

in. "It's-well, it's just something that may save you f

ot up and walked to the far end of the room and took his stand beside

ll-toss it

t into view again and her arm shot out suddenly like a signpost across the white cloth. There was a streak of silver light-and the three male members of the quartet s

sh!" said

l, plucking out the blade, and examini

othy, "and three inches of carved ivory hilt, beautiful

ggle-eyed with surprise, "you are the mo

half of it," said Bill

ncle Sanborn?" Dorothy was laughing at the exp

ll keep my worries for Doctor Winn and his friends. Who'd

leather sheath strapped just above m

f, eh?" remarked Bill as

he'd come, and Dorothy stood up. "What's o

need it this afternoon, and even if things go according to Hoyle, we'll be powerful busy. In the meantime, I've g

y afternoon, too. See that you're back

his?" Dorothy was thumbing the bills, counti

t's apartment at this hotel. And remember, that when she arrives here, Janet will

on Howard, who was simply tongue-tied by the detective's

ank me. Uncle Sam is paying, so y

ternoon!" She caught young Bright by the arm and whirled him across the room to the coat-rack. She jammed a bright green beret over her right e