XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

 CONTENTS 

CONTENTS

   I. NIGHT IN THE UNDERWORLD II. SEVEN—THREE—NINE III. ALIAS GYPSY NAN IV. THE ADVENTURER V. A SECOND VISITOR VI. THE RENDEZVOUS VII. FELLOW THIEVES VIII. THE CODE MESSAGE IX. ROOM NUMBER ELEVEN X. ON THE BRINK XI. SOME OF THE LESSER BREED XII. CROOKS VS. CROOKS XIII. THE DOOR ACROSS THE HALL XIV. THE LAME MAN XV. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER XVI. THE SECRET PANEL XVII. THE SILVER SPHINX XVIII. THE OLD SHED XIX. DREAD UPON THE WATERS XX. A LONE HAND XXI. THE RECKONING  

   

    

       I. NIGHT IN THE UNDERWORLD     

       It was like some shadowy pantomime: The dark mouth of an alleyway thrown into murky relief by the rays of a distant street lamp...the swift, forward leap of a skulking figure...a girl's form swaying and struggling in the man's embrace. Then, a pantomime no longer, there came a half threatening, half triumphant oath; and then the girl's voice, quiet, strangely contained, almost imperious:     

       “Now, give me back that purse, please. Instantly!” The man, already retreating into the alleyway, paused to fling back a jeering laugh.     

       “Say, youse've got yer nerve, ain't youse!”      

       The girl turned her head so that the rays of the street lamp, faint as they were, fell full upon her, disclosing a sweet, oval face, out of which the dark 

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