"Lee, I want you to hunt up the history of a woman for me," says the old miner. The captain's smile runs all over his face. "Why, Colonel Joe!" he begins. "Look here; no nonsense!" says Joseph, firmly. "It's a little matter of five thousand dollars to you, if you can trace what I want." There is no foolishness in Lee's set features. He throws himself back, studying his cigar ash. That five thousand dollars is an "open sesame." "What's her name?" Joseph produces his notes. "Do you remember Hardin sending some people to Panama, in '65?" begins the Colonel. "Two women and two children. They sailed on the GOLDEN GATE." "Perfectly," says the iron captain, removing his cigar. "I watched these steamers for the government. He was a Big Six in the K.G.C., you remember, Colonel Joe?" Joe winces; that Golden Circle dinner comes back, when he, too, cheered the Stars and Bars. "I see you do remember," says Lee, throwing away his cigar. "Now be frank, old man. Tell me your whole game." Woods hands him the list of the passengers. He is keenly eying Lee. "Who was that Madame de Santos?" he says eagerly. "Is it worth five thousand to know?" says the detective, quietly. "On the dead square," replies Joe, "Cash ready." "Do you remember the 'Queen of the El Dorado'?" Lee simply says. "Here! Great God, man!" cries Lee, for Joe Woods' fist comes down on the table. Flying cigars, shattered glasses, and foaming wine make a rare havoc around. "By God!" shouts the oblivious Joe," the woman Hardin killed 'French Charlie' for." "The same," says Lee, steadily, as he picks some splintered glass out of his goatee. "Joe, you can add a suit of clothes to that check." "Stop your nonsense," says the happy Joe, ringing for the waiter to clear away the wreck of his cyclonic fist. "The clothes are O.K." "Where did she come from to take that boat?" demands Woods. "From Hardin's house," says Lee. A light breaks in on Colonel Joe's brain. "And that woman with her?" "Was her maid, who stayed with her from the time she left the El Dorado, and ran the little nest on the hill. The mistress never showed up in public." "And the child who went with the maid?" Joe's voice trembles. "Was Hardin's child. Its mother was the 'Queen of the El Dorado.'" Woods looks at Lee. "Can you give me a report, from the time of the killing of 'French Charlie' down to the sailing?" "Yes, I can," says the inscrutable Lee. "Let me have it, to-morrow morning. Not a word to Hardin." "All right, Colonel Joe," is the answer of silent Lee. Joseph chokes down his feelings, orders a fresh bottle of wine, some cigars, and calls for pen and ink. While the waiter uncorks the wine, Joe says: "What do you pay for your clothes, Lee?" "Oh, a hundred and fifty will do," is the modest answer. "That carries an overcoat."