"I have a plan," began the assistant timidly, "a plan to get you
into the house-if you don't mind my making suggestions?"

"Not at all!" exclaimed his chief heartily.

"Get me into the house by all means; that's what we're here for.
The fact that I'm to be poisoned or strangled after I get there
mustn't discourage us.'"

"I thought," said Cuthbert, "I might stand guard outside, while you
got in as a dope fiend."

Ford snorted indignantly. "Do I LOOK like a dope fiend?" he
protested.

The voice of the assistant was one of discouragement.

"You certainly do not," he exclaimed regretfulIy. "But it's the
only plan I could think of."

"It seems to me," said his chief testily, "that you are not so very
healthy-looking yourself. What's the matter with YOUR getting
inside as a dope fiend and MY standing guard?"

"But I wouldn't know what to do after I got inside," complained the
assistant, "and you would. You are so clever."

The expression of confidence seemed to flatter Ford.

"I might do this," he said. "I might pretend I was recovering from