Still Birdie Lee hesitated; then catching Jimmie Dale's hand, he
wrung it hard--and, with a half choked sob, turned and made his way
from the room.

For an instant Jimmie Dale stood looking after the other through the
darkness, listening as the stealthy steps descended the stairs--then
suddenly he knelt again beside the dead man on the floor.

"You were clever, Slimmy!" he murmured. "Smarlinghue wouldn't have had
a chance of getting out from under this break--if your plans had
worked out! And I didn't know you, of course, because you were a
Chicago crook."

He took off the dead man's mask, and played his flashlight for a moment
over the cold, set features.

A queer smile twisted Jimmie Dale's lips.

It was "Clancy of Headquarters"!




CHAPTER IV


THE DIAMOND PENDANT

The "murder" of Slimmy Jack had evidently been discovered too late for