It was about ten o'clock in the evening when Ed Butler arrived at his sister's house. The location we may as well state was up in the Bronx, beyond Port Morris docks--we do not care to be more definite. It was back of a little strip of water front which as yet remained unimproved. Entering the house after a few words with Mrs. Pow Chow, who seemed disposed to shield her husband from blame, charging that Ed "struck him first," and so on, the three found themselves seated in the kitchen. Pow lit a cigarette, and, turning to his wife, asked: "Well, Ethel, shall I tell Eddie what we want of him to-night?" "You can do as you like," replied the girl, "but if it was me I wouldn't tell him a blessed thing. I'd just make him do it, that's all." "Do what?" demanded Ed, whose temper was rising under the contemptuous way in which the girl seemed disposed to treat him. "You will find that it won't be so easy to make me do what I don't want to, I guess." "Sure," said Pow. "Now don't be so soon, Ethel. Eddie's a good boy. He's a kind of brother of mine, too." "Not on your life!" cried Ed. "Ethel is no sister of mine." "I could slap your face for you, you sassy little brat!" cried the girl, springing up. "How dare you talk like that? I guess I have a right to marry who I like. I'm of age, anyhow." "Sit down!" cried the Chinaman. "Sit down and hold your tongue." Then they began scrapping, Ethel resenting this kind of talk. Ed thought it a good chance to try to pull out. While they were in the midst of it he jumped up and made a bolt for the door, but Pow Chow was too quick for him. The Chinaman got him by the neck in the hall and dragged him back, jamming him down into a chair. "Now, now, now, Eddie!" he cried. "Don't make it any harder for me than you have to. I want to be good to you, but this is the limit. Be good, and you won't regret it--that's right. Say, Ethel, there's no use in us quarreling. According to your own account you and Eddie never could pull together. Go on upstairs and leave him to me." Somewhat to Ed's surprise the girl flounced out of the room without a word. Pow Chow lit another cigarette and offered the package to Ed. "No, I don't want to be drugged again," growled Ed. "You need have no fear. I only made them give you that cigar to keep you quiet. It was just opium. A little of it hurts nobody. I want to be a friend to you, Ed. Now let me tell you that it was all a surprise to me when I found who it was those two fellows had captured last night, but when I saw you it occurred to me that you being such, a bully swimmer and diver, that you were just the fellow I wanted--see?" Wily Pow Chow! He had touched Ed on his weak point, interesting him at once. For Ed had a record for swimming, and particularly for diving. It was his hobby and his pride. Of course, he at once began to wonder in what direction his talents in this line were to be displayed. "Use me how?" he asked.