The picture expert wore a broad grin as the young man came toward him. He waved aside the proffered bundle and said: "Those are not the best of them. Just a minute." He reached behind him and pulled down from under his belted coat a similar carefully rolled bundle. "These are the gems of your collection," he said grimly, offering the slim roll of canvases. "I can't keep them now--you've been too white about this whole thing. I couldn't even accept 'The Blue Boy.'" Gladwin refused to accept the paintings and the thief laid them down on the table. Stepping closer to the young man, he bent down and said low and earnestly: "When a man goes wrong, Gladwin, and the going leans against the lines of least resistance, it's easier to keep on going than to stop and switch off into the hard and narrow path. He is always hoping that something will take hold of him and set him right, and that hope usually involves a woman. "I've been dreaming lately that I wanted something to set me going in the right direction, but it seems that you have beaten me to that, or are on the fair road to do it. The trouble is that I have forgotten how to go about a clean thing cleanly." "I'm mighty sorry, but"----Gladwin started. "But you're also mighty glad." "I shall always remember you, Wilson, and here's my hand on it that I shall always be willing to help you up and out of the--the"---- "The muck!" supplied the thief, accepting Gladwin's hand and gripping it. "However, we are wasting time and keeping the ladies up till an unconscionable hour. If you will get your little Jap down here without making a noise about it, I can use him and bid you good-night." Gladwin went warily out into the hallway, reconnoitered the front door and vestibule, then went to the stairway and uttered a short, sharp whistle. Bateato came down as if on winged feet and halted as if turned to stone between the big man in the uniform of Officer 666 and his master. "Come here," said Wilson, and plucked the Jap by the arm. Bateato trembled with apprehension. "Would you like to catch the thief?" the picture expert asked him. "Ees, sair." Bateato looked at his master, who nodded reassuringly. "Well, the thief is in your master's room," said Wilson, impressively. "Go up there and bang on the door--take that poker out of the fireplace and make all the noise you can. Do you understand me?" "Ees, sair," and Bateato's long lost grin returned. "I make bang, bang." "Yes, and yell, 'Police--quick, quick, quick--catch thief.'" "Ees, sair, big much pleece come and tief run. Bateato run too and pleece find all empty." "Good--hurry!" and Wilson gave the Jap an unnecessary push toward the fireplace, for the little Oriental fairly flew on his errand. A moment later there burst upon the stillness of the mansion a frightful uproar. The noise was distinctly audible in the street, as Wilson had slipped to the door and opened it, then concealed himself behind a curtain.