She would be of assistance, too, in identifying both the lace and the thief--and he had seen neither the one nor the other as yet.

So it was the same old game, was it ?--with a man at the bottom of the deal! "Do you know the pawn-shops around here ?" he asked, becoming suddenly confidential.
"Not one of them, and don't want to," came the contemptuous reply.

"When I get as low down as that, I've got a brother to help me.

He'll be up here himself to-night and will tell you so." Pickert had been standing over her throughout the interview, despite her invitation to be seated.

He now moved toward a seat, his hat still tilted back from his forehead.
"What makes you think this man you call Dalton stole it ?" he asked, drawing a chair out from the table, as though he meant to let her lead him on a new scent.
"Come over here before you sit down and I'll tell you," she exclaimed, peremptorily.