We received a cordial welcome from the people at the hotel and gossiped around the corridor for some time. The crowd outside was sullen, but within the atmosphere seemed less strained. We learned that Chief Hallen had made several arrests that afternoon, a measure which had had a sobering effect. The saloons had been warned not to abuse their privileges. Many persons spoke of the work done by Hallen as excellent; indeed, we were both impressed by the fact that the sentiment toward him, of the better citizens, was friendly. Considerable disgust was expressed, however--privately, of course--at the lack of evidence, so far, bearing upon the murder itself. In the course of the evening we managed to see Reilly the porter, and he pointed out several men to us. "These fellows are new in town--they must be detectives. If they discover things, well and good; but if they don't, the people here won't stand it--they will resent what they call 'outside' work." "Hallen must have gone in for business," said I. Reilly grew confidential. "No, it ain't Hallen, they say. There's a lot of talk about some New York man coming up here to run things." "Who?" "Oh, they say that Quintus Oakes--you've heard of him, of course--is coming soon, and these are some of his men." "Indeed!" And Moore and I exchanged glances. "But, say," continued the porter, "that is confidential; only we fellows round here know it." We parted from Reilly. Moore said: "If they know about it in here, of course half of the town has heard already." "Yes. The tale was doubtless started by Hallen as a great secret; he knew it would spread." "Evidently Oakes has not been recognized by the people as yet." "No," I rejoined, "but the fact that the rumor is out shows to my mind that Hallen and Oakes have some little scheme on hand. At any rate, we must know nothing of Oakes; remember that he is _Clark_ to all but a select few." We decided to go to one of the newspaper offices, after a brief call on Chief Hallen, who gave us no news of value, but was nevertheless very agreeable. He advised us to see Dowd, and gave us a note to him. We found the newspaper man at his office, just finishing his night's work. He was very attentive in furnishing us back copies of his rival's paper, the "Daily News." He said he kept them filed as samples of "daring journalism." "I have only been a couple of years in this business, but I have the pedigree of the town in these newspapers. I got them from people who had saved them--as country people will. Skinner would not sell me any--the rascal. Whenever he grows fresh and criticises things improperly, I investigate what he has previously said on the subject and then publish a deadly parallel column. He has a rather poor memory--and I worry him once in a while," he remarked with a laugh.