ice he always picked the stones from their settings and disposed of them singly. That, in fact, was why he had always preferred ice. A pearl was always a pearl, and a diamond always a diamond. It could be deprived of its identity by removal from its setting, but its commercial value remained the same. And if Bud had carried off that club-bag it was only too plain that it was gone for good.

"Is this woman lying?" I asked Big Ben. And I could see the flash of hate from Copperhead Kate's pale green eyes as I put the question to him.

"That woman'd better keep her trap shut," was the answer of the Chief, ignoring both my question and his prisoner together.

"But what I want you to do, Baddie, is to get after this guy Griswold, and get after him right away. You know his tricks. And you know his trails. So the sooner you slip out on the job of rounding him up the better!"

I squinted up at Big Ben with my one good eye.

"Why should I go after Bud Griswold?" I demanded.

"Because I—because our office wants him rounded up," was the Chief's matter-of-fact reply.

"Well, what am I to you, or your office?" I