ertain melody and harmony about the sounds, like a pipe organ played softly at night. This was shot through at times by a loud pop-p

He did not struggle against it, did not so much as wish to struggle. For all th

vaguely familiar face appeared above him. A narrow, rather dark, tense

ills," his l

. We're glad

ed that last word

realm of reality. The cold fog was gone, he knew that. The

ght once more,

girl said, "You are back in the shac

, his staunch friends; Newton Mills, the one-time derelict and veteran detective, and Joyce Mills,

sit up. "The shack! How-how wonderful!" He sank bac

to memories. The girl's face had vanished. Something to

at, very much more. They had been pals. And as pals they had shared dangers. They had dared together and had won. Drew Lane had been with them, Newton

He said the

s what you get for going it alone. You might have known we were still in Chicago. You did not look us up. You c

the shack and Drew Lane is here. Others are not far a

lone, that he did appreciate his friends. But somehow the words would not come. His thoughts were all mixed up with dre

* *

w he was sitting up on the cot, talking eagerly. From beneath his crown of bandages his two eyes gleamed like twin stars.

s in the hall. Eyes gleamed at me. A ske

Lane, the keen detec

't you suppose a fellow knows

d, a low laugh,

taffy-haired, boyish sort of girl, and said she was sorry

eaned forward eagerly

those eyes, open doors and shut 'em, make coffee maybe, I don't kn

oing back?"

n Johnny had never seen until that night,

ng back. I'm

what?" Drew La

" Johnny's b

man. "He was hit on the head in that alley-I found him and brought him here," Drew was saying to himself. "He's slightly cuckoo from that terrible bump he got. All this

y. Two queer ones live there, a long one and a

rew grinned. "Was he th

to his head. "I-I doubt that.

ight have followed me all that time. But wh

ng to later?" Joyce M

yes.' He said there'd be danger. But who cares for danger?" Once more his hand went to his head. "They-they didn't get me, not yet. B

him?" Drew

ut the

hed low. "That's what they call West Madison

eve that Johnny was all ri

n I've seen him right enough. Unless I've got him all wrong, he sat beside me in that auction

you b

re

the auction house, then of the

o buying that package may have belonged to the gang that beat you up in that alley. Package was

d back to his place on the cot. "I didn't

or the fellow who made you buy what you didn't want. One of these hit you.

n it!" The large man

bureau. He-he seems to like being here in our shack now and then. But keep it dark," he warned. "There are people who w

led. "Anyway, I wouldn't wan

nd Eyes'?" He turned to John

with a broad grin, "wh