“Yes, and you’ll learn to your better knowledge that the cops don’t wear the shield for their health; besides, their appetites are too hardy after dollars to let you run loose. They can pick you up to-day and within two weeks divide that one-thousand-dollar reward.” “Well, Billy, we seem to be in a fix, and I’ll go and see these detectives, but not on my own account. For myself I wouldn’t do it. It grinds me to soil my hands in a deal with such rascals. But for you I will yield; you shall not be arrested on my account. I haven’t forgotten that it was you who aided me when I didn’t know what to do. Arrange a meeting with these detectives, and I’ll see them.” “Good,” replied Matthews, with a relief that was very noticeable; “I was hard pressed by McCord and Radford. They’ve been after me for four days. I was told that if I didn’t produce you to-day, they’d take me to Police Headquarters, and they meant it.” A meeting was arranged for five o’clock that afternoon, and Detective Kelso was to be there with McCord and Radford. It occurred to me that I might, through the little acquaintance with Kelso, who was associated with Tim Golden in the Walpole Bank investigation, adjust the present muddle more to my satisfaction. I was fast getting an interesting knowledge of the inside affairs of the New York Detective Bureau. So I earnestly hoped he would be one of the party. I was at Fifth Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street, close to the entrance of Central Park, the meeting-place agreed upon, with great promptness, but I found the three detectives already in waiting. Jim Kelso had not forgotten our New England acquaintance, and greatly surprised me by the enthusiasm he displayed. I understood later that it was a characteristic of his to meet those friendly to him in this fashion, even on a shorter acquaintance, when there was a financial deal in prospect. “Well, George,” said he, shaking my hand vigorously, “I’m glad to know you succeeded in giving those New Hampshire people the go-by.” Then he introduced me to Jack McCord and George Radford, claiming them to be his very intimate friends, with whom I would be sure to have the most pleasant relations. “They’re all right,” he said effusively, “and you’ll find them so.” He paused a moment, and then added, with a smile, “I understand we’ve got some bonds to sell you.” “To sell me?” I echoed his words in the form of a question. “To sell me bonds?”