of William J. Burns's big men."

Auntie Sue gave her attention to her big friend: "Yes?"

The Sheriff continued: "Now, the Burns people, you see, protect the
banks all over the country."

"Yes?" came, again, in a tone so low and gentle that the monosyllable
was scarcely heard.

The officer's loud voice went on: "And Mr. Ross, here, works most of
his time on these bank cases. Just now, he is trailing a fellow that got
away with a lot of money from the Empire Consolidated Savings Bank, of
Chicago, about a month ago;--that is, the man disappeared about a month
ago. He had been stealing along from the bank for about a year,--worked,
for them, you see."

"The Empire Consolidated Savings Bank!" Auntie Sue spoke the words in
a voice that was little more than a whisper. It was to the Empire
Consolidated Savings Bank that she had sent the money which she had
received from her brother in Buenos Aires; and Homer T. Ward, the
president of that bank, was one of her old pupils. Why, her stranger
guest, in the other room there, was that very moment wearing one of the
bank president's nightshirts.

"And do you"--Auntie Sue addressed the detective--"do you know the man's
name, Mr. Ross?"

"Oh, yes," returned the officer, "his name is Brian Kent."