fierce and hateful in the lantern's flash in the alley. This was the
man I had sworn to bring to the gallows for a brutal crime. And now I
was his trusted agent, with control, however limited, of millions.

It was a puzzle too deep for me. I was near coming to Mother Borton's
view that there was something uncanny about Doddridge Knapp. Did two
spirits animate that body? What was the thread that should join all
parts of the mystery into one harmonious whole?

I wondered idly who Doddridge Knapp's visitor might be, but as I could
see no way of finding out, and felt no special concern over his
identity or purposes, I rose and left the office. As I stepped into the
hall I discovered that somebody had a deeper curiosity than I. A man
was stooping to the keyhole of Doddridge Knapp's room in the endeavor
to see or hear. As he heard the sound of my opening door he started up,
and with a bound, was around the turn of the hall and pattering down
the stairs.

In another bound I was after him. I had seen his form for but a second,
and his face not at all. But in that second I knew him for Tim Terrill
of the snake-eyes and the murderous purpose.

When I reached the head of the stairs he was nowhere to be seen, but I
heard the patter of his feet below and plunged down three steps at a
time and into Clay street, nearly upsetting a stout gentleman in my
haste. The street was busy with people, but no sign of the snake-eyed
man greeted me.

Much disturbed in mind at this apparition of my enemy, I sought in vain
for some explanation of his presence. Was he spying on Doddridge Knapp?