"Huh! I guess he's due for the hospital," the owner of the Austrian Village announced. "He had his nerve, trying to turn a trick in my place. I thought I knew all the dips, but he's a stranger." With nimble fingers he ran through the fellow's pockets, then continued: "I'm glad you got him, but you'd better get together and rehearse before the police--" He stopped abruptly once more, then looked up curiously. "What is it?" questioned the man from Missouri. Padden pointed silently to the lapel of the fellow's vest, which he had turned back. A nickeled badge was pinned upon it. "He's no thief; he's a detective--a plain-clothes man!" "Wha'd I tell you!" Higgins exulted. "I can smell 'em!" The crowd looked nonplussed, with the exception of Jefferson Locke, who became calmer than at any time since the waiter had first whispered into his ear. "We didn't know who he was," he began, hurriedly, "You must square it for us, Padden. I don't care what it costs." He extended a bulky roll of bank-notes toward the gray-haired man. "These boys can't stand this sort of thing, and neither can I. I've got to sail at ten o'clock this morning." "Looks to me like you've croaked him," said the proprietor, ignoring the proffered money. "It's worth a thousand dollars to me not to miss my boat." "Wait a minute." Padden emptied the unconscious man's pockets, among other things of some telegrams and a legally folded paper. The latter he opened and scanned swiftly, then turned his little eyes upon Locke without a word, whereupon that gentleman, with equal silence, took from his inside pocket a wallet, and selected a bill, the denomination of which he displayed to the proprietor before folding it inside the bundle he held. "Here! It may cost you something." Padden nodded and accepted the money, saying: "Oh, I guess I can fix it. I know the right doctor." He regained his feet, then warned the onlookers: "But you'll have to keep your traps closed, understand?" "Will he die?" asked Ringold, fearfully, his back still against the door. "Not a chance. But if he does he'll never know who hit him. You see, we picked him up in the alley and brought him in." Padden winked meaningly. "It happens right along in this part of town. Do you get me? I'll keep these." He indicated the badge and papers in his hand. "Now go out as if nothing had come off. Drop in again the next time you're in town. I'll take care of the supper checks." As the partly sobered visitors struggled into their overcoats Padden drew Locke aside, and, nodding toward Higgins, who was still talkative, said: "If you want to catch that ten o'clock boat you'd better stick close to your friend; I know him." "Thanks!" Locke glanced at the prostrate figure, then inquired in a low tone: "On the level, will he make it?" "Hard to tell. Just the same, if I was you I'd change my sailing--he might come to."