"That ought to do it," said Peter, glancing at it. "Thanks. I may not use it, but it's best to be prepared." They had turned into Gramercy Park. The cab drew up before the broad entrance of Mrs. Atterbury's house, and Donald Morris stepped out. "I'm trusting you, Clancy," he said, as he held out his hand, "with something that is more important than life to me." "I know," Peter nodded as he grasped the outstretched hand with a firm pressure. "I'll do my best," he repeated, reassuringly. He sighed, however, as the cab rolled swiftly through the busy streets. "Nobody's best is any too good in a case like this," he thought to himself. "He's a fine chap, all right, is Morris. I hope she's what he thinks her, and then some.... Wonder what kind of a woman she really is. He looks as if he might be a judge, but you never can tell.... What is it she's been hiding from him--from everybody ... except one person.... A woman as successful as she is wouldn't live the way she's been living, unless there was something.... And the sister? Dammit all, I can't see----" He was still cogitating thus when he reached his office. He was thankful to find that his partner and old friend, Captain O'Malley, was in and at liberty. It was always a help, a clearance of his mind, to talk over a case with the astute, experienced old man who had trained him when he was a cub in the police detective service, and with whom he had been associated ever since. The old man listened attentively while Peter detailed the facts as they had been presented to his notice. "It looked like robbery," Peter said, in conclusion, "but, I ask you, wasn't it intended that it should look like robbery, maybe? At least, isn't that on the cards? That broken window on the fire-escape was a blind. I'm sure of that much. I didn't mention it to Morris--thought he had enough on his mind as it was--but not only was the broken glass all on the outside window-sill, but the catch hadn't even been turned. Whoever broke the glass wasn't very fly, or else they got scared, for they didn't unlock the window." "Or else the thief stopped and locked it after he got outside," said O'Malley, with a little chuckle.