“That may be true, perhaps, but with your help I can get the information I want, and very probably the crooks I am after,” said Patsy. “In other words, Pilot, I want you to put me in right with Bannon.” “What’s that ‘in-right’ gag?” questioned Flynn distrustfully. “What d’ye mean by that?” Patsy made no bones over explaining. “I want you to go with me and find Bannon,” he said curtly. “When we have found him, you must introduce me to him as a particular pal of yours, Sandy Glynn by name, and tell him that you knew me in Chicago. Tell him that you owe me a special service, in return for something done for you, and----” “Say! D’ye think I----” “Never mind what I think, Pilot,” Patsy interrupted. “You’re going to do what I direct, and do it right up to snuff, or it’s you for the stone house with the barred windows. Do you get me?” “Sure I get you,” growled Flynn, scowling darkly. “What more d’ye want?” “You must tell Bannon that I am wanted by the Chicago police, that detectives are here after me for a burglary, and that you want him to find a safe concealment for me, where I can lie low till the dicks have gone. You must ask it as a special favor, making it plain that he is the only one to whom you can turn to help you out. Hand it to him good and strong, Pilot, for your liberty depends upon your making good. That’s what I want of you--and all I want. I’ll do the rest.” Flynn’s face wore a look as black as midnight. He sat silent for a moment, scowling daggers at the detective, and then he snarled bitterly between his teeth: “Say! I’ll not do this.” “Oh, yes, you will,” Patsy quietly insisted. “You’re making a snitch of me, a dirty cur, a traitor to----” “Enough of that, Pilot,” Patsy interrupted. “You’re going to do it, and do it up right--or you’re going with me! You know what that means.” “But Bug Bannon will knife me for it.” “No, he won’t. When I get through with him, he’ll be where he cannot do any knifing.” “But----” “Besides,” Patsy again cut in, “he need never know but what you thought you were acting on the level.” “How can that be?” “You can claim that you did know a crook named Sandy Glynn, and with whom you were friendly in Chicago. You can insist that I was made up as a marker for him, and that you did not dream that I was a detective. You can get by all right with that story, even if you and Bannon do come together again. He would swallow it, hands down, coming from you.” “That’s the worst of it, blast you!” Flynn snarled fiercely. “That’s why I can’t do it.” “You’ve got to do it, Pilot. You’ll do it, or do time.” “That goes, does it?” questioned Flynn, hesitating. “You bet it goes!” “Suppose I make good, all right. Will you promise never to give me away?” “Certainly.” “On the dead?” “You know me,” said Patsy. “My word is as good as a government bond.” “Mebbe ’tis, but I wish you were at the bottom of the East River,” Flynn growled harshly. “But I’ll do it, hang you! I’ll do it to save my own skin.”