"A girl who gave her name as Blanche Paglar of ---- Elizabeth St., became hysterical at police headquarters this morning upon being informed by the police that there was no clue to the disappearance of Henry, alias Spike Talley, 24, same address. The girl had previously reported that Talley had been missing since the night of May 27th. She received scant sympathy from the police who told her that if the young man had met with foul play it was probably in the pursuit of his own nefarious occupations. Spike Talley was a leading member of the notorious Chick Murphy gang, and is suspected of complicity in half a dozen crimes of violence." Pen turned a little giddy. Her heart pounded so that she thought Riever must hear it. Dared she credit what this story implied? Had she come upon the key to the whole mystery? Had she? Had she? She leaned back in the divan and held the paper up in front of her so that he could not see her face. When her breast quieted down she sternly reminded herself that this was but slim evidence on which to build a case. She might be mistaken altogether. She might be merely reading into the item what she desired to find there. She determined to put it to the test. But she had to wait awhile before she dared trust her voice. It was Riever who said at last coaxingly: "Put down the paper." Pen did so. Her face was perfectly composed now. Her voice even as she said: "Here's a curious little story." "What's that?" said Riever. "A girl goes to the police for help in finding her lover. They laugh at her because he was a gangster." For an instant Riever looked at her like an animal at bay, his teeth showing, his eyes senseless with terror. It was gone in a snap of the fingers, but it was enough. "I guess that's common enough," he said with a laugh. "What a situation for a story," said Pen. "Oh yes, if you like that sort of story," he said, flicking the ash off his cigar. Pen said to herself with a swelling breast: "I have made a beginning!" No need for her to secure the paper. Those names and that address were etched on her brain. Riever's start of terror had been due to a reflex action of which he was scarcely conscious. He did not suspect that he had betrayed himself. He must have argued that it was impossible that Pen should connect him with that item in the paper. Her speaking of it could only have been a coincidence. So his satisfaction was undisturbed. They talked on about all sorts of things. But Pen was wild to get into action now. Her opportunity came when one of Riever's men came to ask if he had any orders for the boat. It was returning to the Island to get the regular mail which arrived about noon. Pen said to Riever: "This would be a good chance for me to get my shopping done. If I might..." "Certainly," said Riever. "If you must. May I come too?" This was awkward. It could not be evaded though. "It's your boat," said Pen, smiling. "Yours for this trip."