The idea of honor among thieves is a myth. A rogue is a rogue all the time, and criminals will betray a companion or a friend ninety-nine times out of a hundred. There is no romance in crime; it is always a dark record.

"Credo," said Oscar, "you have it nicely arranged here."

"Yes, sir, it's perfect for the matter you have in hand."

"What matter have you in hand?"

"You know."

"Do I?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"I get the information and trade it. I've traded valuable information to you."

"That is true, and between us it is business. You were not aware that I was on to this arrangement?"

The man stared.

"No, I was not."

"Well, I am going to avail myself of this trick staircase, but keep very shady. Some of the lads are outside; they must not close in if I am gone some time. Give them a signal when they rush in, or they might do something rash. The rest of the fellows have not the confidence in you that I have, and they might suspect something. Be on the lookout, and if necessary show one of them where I am, for my orders have been very strict."

There was no misunderstanding on the part of Credo. He smiled and said:

"I take what you mean. No, no, I've no such notion. It's business with us; that's right. I am not going to free myself this way, and here it is on the square. I'd rather make a stake this way, for if a man dies, he dies sudden--he don't linger."

"We understand then?"

"Yes."

"All right, I am going to take in the meeting upstairs."

Oscar drew his mask lantern, slipped into the opening after a thorough examination of the whole contrivance and then he said:

"Close the door, old man, close the door."

The door did close and immediately our hero opened it. He looked out and said:

"Play very close to-night, Credo: don't let your customers, if you have any, fall to us."

"The people are all at a ball. I'll have no visitors to-night except it may be a straggler."

"All right, close the door."

Oscar believed he had taken every precaution, and indeed he had; and under all the circ.u.mstances he was very cool, but for him it was a big night and the most important consequences were destined to follow, and he knew it.

With his lantern properly adjusted he ascended the stairs and in good time arrived at the place where he was to take in his news. He had been fully instructed and he found everything just as the man Credo had stated. Well, the arrangement was indeed a good one, and he mentally concluded:

"That fellow Credo is a genius; it's a pity he is not an honest man."

Oscar could see into the room and could overhear every word--almost hear a whisper, so cunningly had the eavesdropping trap been contrived. Oscar peeped in, and there was his siren, and there also was his whilom friend Girard. He and the siren were alone. Both wore a pleased look upon their faces; they were in a merry mood, and the man Girard said as our hero got fixed to take in their sayings:

"He thinks himself a very smart fellow."

"Don't make any mistake; he is a smart fellow--the smartest fellow that ever started out to shadow us, and he would be too much for us but for one fact."

"And what is that?"

"He is honest and sympathetic, otherwise I would never have succeeded in fooling and getting him in tow, but now I've got him."

"You feel a.s.sured of that?"

"I do. I've secured him on the only weak side he's got. He is the hardest man to secure I ever started out to gain, but I've gone for him on just the right tack. I will handle him with care; I will learn all he knows. I will learn just who is working in with him, and then----"

"What then?"

"Alas! it's sad to think of it. He is a good fellow, but he must _walk the plank_ like the rest of them."

"Look out you don't lose your heart to him."

The woman laughed in a merry manner and said:

"I've won his. I can read it in his eyes."

"Woman's vanity," thought Oscar, and he did mutter: "That is her weakest point."

"You have measured pretty well. What is your conclusion?"

"I'll tell you; he is going it alone. He is the only one who has any points on us; of that I am certain. But, as I said, I'll woo until I know just who is in with him, if any one."

At that moment the talk was interrupted and three men entered the room.

Well, our hero was surprised. One of the men he recognized at a glance and he muttered: "Can it be possible?"

As the three men entered Girard rose to his feet and greeted the man whom our hero had recognized. He exclaimed as he extended his hand:

"Redalli, I am glad to greet you, and let me tell you that you have arrived just in time."

"Bah! I've heard all about it. You gentlemen are too easily frightened.

There is nothing to fear."

"That man is now known as Redalli, eh?" muttered Oscar, and there came a gleam in his eyes which few could read.

"We do not scare, as easily as you think, Redalli. I tell you there is a man on our track who is quietly running us down, and if we do not dispose of him he will spoil all our work of years."

"We will dispose of him; but what have you gentlemen been doing? Why did you not dispose of him?"