“I have located Bull Blair,” he said. CHAPTER XXVIII. MIKE QUICK GIVEN A SHOCK. Frank Hare was wrong in the opinion that Blair would not seek an interview with Quick. The morning after his escape from the young detective, Bull went around to Mike’s dive. The bartender was quite well acquainted with his visitor. “Where is Mike?” The bartender laughed. “The boss has gone down South on a hunting trip,” he replied. “You don’t sa-ay!” “Yes; been gone over a week now.” “Then it is strange I should be talking with him yesterday.” “I’m only giving you what he told me when he went away.” “Young fellow, you are entirely too fresh--see?” remarked Bull. “You have not been employed in this place a week.” In fact, it was the fellow’s first day in Quick’s employ, he having been engaged the night before to take the place of the bartender who had on one occasion knocked Burt out. The newcomer, Jim Elford, was an ex-sneak-thief. “Sa-ay, Bull, you can’t see the boss--understand?” “Why can’t I see him?” “Just because I say you can’t.” “Are you the boss here?” “Just now I am.” “Is Quick in the house?” “Sonny,” remarked Jim, who was many years younger than the man he addressed, “you can’t get any information from me.” “What have I done to you?” “Nothing, and I’ll take care you don’t do anything to me.” Bull felt like dragging the fellow from behind the bar and mauling him. “I know,” he said, “that Mike wants to see me, Elford.” “I’ve got nothing to do with that.” Quick was up-stairs. He had left instructions with the bartender to deny that he was at home. Jim seemed bent upon carrying out his employer’s instructions to the very letter. “Well,” said Blair, “give me some of your whisky.” Elford put out a bottle and glass, and his visitor drank. “I’ll bet,” he said, “Mike Quick will rue not seeing me.” “Can’t you leave any message you have with me?” “No.” “Afraid to trust me?” “What I have to say is meant for Quick’s especial ear,” said Bull, “and as I can’t see him I suppose I had better sneak.” Blair moved toward the door. Jim called him back. “Stop here a moment,” said the bartender, “and see that no one runs off with the place.” Elford then went out by a rear door. He was absent only a few moments. When he returned he said: “You’ll find Mike in the room above the store.” “Now, Freshy,” sneered Bull, “you see I knew what I was talking about.” Blair found the dive-keeper in the room indicated by Elford. Quick seemed in the best possible humor, and a smile wreathed his dissipated-looking features. He had been reading an account of the finding of Murphy’s body in a morning paper. No mention was made of the fact that the “fence” was alive when found. Mike now felt sure that his victim was found dead. The case would, he believed, go down in the annals of New York history as a mystery. But no. The man who now called to see him knew who the murderer was.