She apprehended it without his speaking. "Oh, I shall not kill him myself," she said. "I suspect I am too much American for that." She went on presently: "I have a feeling that the murder of my uncle is only the first act in a whole drama of crime that Francisco is planning. We must prevent it! If I only knew what was in that little book! You have had no answer to your cable to Estuban?" Greg shook his head. "Even if he comes it would be a week before he could get here. Francisco will not wait a week." Bessie interrupted them to say that the boy from the druggist's at the corner had come to say that Greg was wanted on the telephone. "That will be Pa Simmons," said Greg. "Back in a jiffy." This was what Greg heard over the wire in Pa Simmons' crinkly voice: "This you, Greg? This is me. Do you get me? Well, I picked up that party all right at the address given, and I stuck to him closer than a brother all afternoon and evening. I'll give you a full report when I come in. I just called up now to say that at eleven-thirty I followed him to the Stickney Arms, and he's there yet. Looks to me like he was going to stay all night. If you want the place watched any longer you'll have to send up one of the boys to relieve me, because I'm all in. I gotta have my sleep." "All right, Pa," said Greg. "Come on home." When Greg got back to Bessie's, Bessie and Amy were drinking coffee together like sisters. A slight alteration in their demeanor as he came in, suggested that they were exchanging confidences that were denied him. Greg felt a little sore. He reported what Pa Simmons had told him. Amy sprang up. "Good!" she cried. "He'll stay all night of course. I'll go right home. If he still has the little black book upon him I promise you I'll get it before he leaves the apartment." CHAPTER XI THE RIDE HOME Hickey brought the flivver round to the front door again. As Amy got in and saw Greg preparing to follow, she said with a great air of surprise: "Oh, you're not coming." "Why, of course I am," said Greg with a surprised air as good as hers. "Why not?" "But it isn't in the least necessary. I came alone." "I know. But I want to come." "Oh, thank you, but I don't think you'd better." "I'm coming," said Greg doggedly, and got in and closed the door. She drew stiffly into her own corner, and stared out of the window. Greg not at all sure of his ground was nevertheless doggedly determined to see the thing through. His peace of mind demanded that he come to some kind of an understanding with her. They rode for five blocks in silence. Finally Greg said: "Why do you treat me so?"