“Neither I did when I first came here,” replied Burt. “You want him now?” “You are good at guessing. I do want him, and I want him bad.” “What has he been doing?” “I guess you know. By the way, where did that blood-spot on your shirt-front come from?” Quick gave a great start. Then he looked down at the telltale spot. He had not noticed it before. “From my nose,” he said. Burt saw with half an eye that his companion was agitated. “Mike,” he said, “that blood did not come from your nose.” “I say it did, and I should know,” said Quick. And he pulled himself together. “You didn’t kill any one?” The dive-keeper grinned. “I guess if I did you wouldn’t find me here,” he said. The affair at the “fence” on Elizabeth Street had not as yet reached the police. “Now,” said Burt, “you must put me in the way of finding Cook.” “I have not seen him since you and I had the run-in.” “Don’t lie.” “I’m giving it to you straight.” “By the way, do you know his partner?” asked Burt. “You mean Kidd?” “Why, has he more than one partner?” “He may have a dozen, for all I know,” replied Quick. “Then why do you particularly mention Kidd?” asked Burt. “Because I’ve heard Enoch speak of him more than once.” “Have you ever seen the man?” “Never.” “He is in this city?” “So I believe.” “Quick, you are lying to me right straight along,” said Burt. “You are determined to make me out a liar, at any rate.” “You surely know where Enoch Cook is stopping?” “I’ll take my oath I don’t.” “Give me your wrists!” “What for?” “Because I say so.” “Are you going to lock me up because I can’t put you onto Enoch?” “No.” “It looks that way.” “I’m going to lock you up for having aided a prisoner to escape.” The words but escaped the detective when he was felled by the blow of a sand-bag delivered from behind. CHAPTER XV. AJEEB’S GRIM HUMOR. Billy Barry called upon his friend Ajeeb the afternoon Burt was laid out at Quick’s, and it was on the detective the conversation of the two former hinged. Barry and the high priest took possession of the latter’s library. It was Billy’s first visit since he had aided in entrapping Stolburst. “Well, old man,” said the visitor, “how does your prisoner come on?” “He has met with an accident.” “An accident?” repeated Billy. “Yes,” replied Ajeeb grimly, “he has lost one of his ears.” Barry looked at his companion in astonishment. Although Ajeeb had so threatened, Billy did not believe he would torture Stolburst. An ear gone! Barry repeated the phrase to himself. What a queer-looking object a person with one ear must be! “Did you cut it off?” “No,” replied Ajeeb smilingly, “Ashah attended to that little matter.” “Poor devil!” “What! Do you pity him?” “Yes; it would have been far more charitable to kill him.” “In a week, perhaps, he shall lose the other ear.” “In a week?”