As the door closed behind the girl, Albert Peet licked his lips, said: "Mr. Moynahan, I suppose my disappearance back at your room requires some explanation. But the fact is that Stanley brought an important bit of news." He paused. Jaro said nothing. "You might be interested to know that Miss Mikail is quite safe. Karfial Hodes has her, but Stanley assures me she will be quite safe." Again he paused. As Jaro remained silent, his neck mottled up pinkly. "The fact is, Mr. Moynahan, that we won't need you after all. I realize that we've put you to considerable trouble and we're prepared to pay you whatever you believe your time is worth. Say five hundred Earth notes?" "That's fair enough," replied Jaro. Albert Peet sighed. "I have the check made out." "Only," continued Jaro coldly, "I'm not ready to be bought off. I think I'll deal myself a hand in this game." Mr. Peet's face fell. "You won't reconsider?" "Sorry," said Jaro; "but I've got a date. I'm late now." He started to leave. "Stanley!" called Albert Peet. The pale-faced young man appeared in the doorway, the dart gun in his good hand. Jaro Moynahan dropped on his face, jerking out his slug gun as he fell. There was a tiny plop like a cap exploding. He heard the whisper of the poisoned dart as it passed overhead. Then he fired from the floor. The pale-faced young man crumpled like an empty sack. Jaro got up, keeping an eye on Albert Peet, brushed off his knees. "You've killed him," said Peet. "If I were you, Mr. Moynahan, I would be on the next liner back to Earth." Without answering, Jaro backed watchfully from the room. * * * * * Once Jaro Moynahan had regained the street, he mopped his forehead with his handkerchief. Whatever was going on, these boys played for keeps. Warily he started down the passage toward the native quarter. At the first basement grog shop he turned in. His eyes swept the chamber, then he grinned. At a corner table, a tall glass of Latonka before her, sat Miss Webb. Her hat was still on backwards, and she was perched on the edge of her chair as if ready to spring up and away like a startled faun. "_Bang!_" said Jaro coming up behind her and poking a long brown finger in the small of her back. Miss Webb uttered a shriek, jerked so violently that her hat tilted over one eye. She regarded him balefully from beneath the brim. "Never a dull moment," she gritted. Still grinning, Jaro sat down. "I'm Jaro Moynahan, Miss Webb. I think Albert Peet forgot to introduce us. There's some skullduggery going on here that I'm particularly anxious to get to the bottom of. I thought you might be able to help me." "Yes," replied Miss Webb sweetly. A native waiter, attracted no doubt by her scream, came over and took Jaro's order. "All right," Jaro smiled, but his pale blue eyes probed the girl thoughtfully. "I'll have to confide certain facts which might be dangerous for you to know. Are you game, Miss Webb?"