" Hullo , Jordan , old scout , " he greeted .sx " So you've got the job , eh ?sx Well , look here , dear lad , there's no need for us to be bad friends .sx I'm going straight these days , though that blighter Morris won't believe it .sx So come and have a drink .sx It's better than hanging about in the cold waiting for me .sx " " Thanks all the same , Gerry , " grinned Jordan , " but somebody might think that you were a crook if they saw you with me .sx " " Oh , I say , old fellow , cut out the humorous patter , there's a good chap. Come along and have one .sx " " I'll meet you inside , " returned Jordan .sx Gerry made a gesture of mock despair and walked on until he came to the bottom of Villiers Street , up which he turned and presently arrived before a hotel where he halted .sx It occurred to him that he was hungry , and hating the idea of dining alone with his own thoughts such as they were at the present time , he waited for Jordan again .sx " What's the matter , Gerry ?sx " asked Jordan as he strolled up .sx " Short of the price ?sx " " No , of course not , " retorted Gerry indignantly .sx " What about a spot of dinner , just you and I , eh ?sx " " If you promise not to corrupt my young morals I'll say yes , " grinned Jordan , who , as it happened , had made a scrap lunch and had had no tea .sx They entered the hotel and it was only with difficulty that the detective avoided Gerry taking his arm .sx Glancing at him , Jordan had to admit that the crook was a very fine figure of a man and his manners were an education .sx Few people would ever have suspected that he was a well-known criminal guilty of half the crimes in the calendar .sx No wonder that he found such easy victims !sx Throughout the dinner Jordan was conscious of Gerry's nervousness and he was puzzled as to the cause .sx He had not been given any details at the Yard , merely told off to shadow the crook until such time as he was relieved .sx This was a mistake .sx Had he been aware of the real reason for the shadowing it is possible that one life at least might have been saved .sx Visibly Gerry was the careless , hail-fellow-well-met man of the world enjoying a good dinner with an old companion .sx But Jordan detected the underlying nervous tension which belied the carefree manner .sx Once he saw him start and a moment later an unmistakable look of relief overspread his face and he began to talk rather loudly to hide his sudden lapse .sx Jordan grinned to himself .sx Gerry had the wind-up about something and was as jumpy as a grasshopper .sx He glanced round the room to discover who might have been the cause of that sudden start and observed a heavily-built , black-bearded man seating himself at a table in the corner , obviously a foreigner , probably a Russian .sx He appeared to be the cause of Gerry's alarm .sx Jordan took a side glance at Gerry and noticed him surreptitiously wiping his forehead .sx Truly he was very much afraid of something .sx His curiosity piqued , he ventured a question :sx " Glad I'm with you , Gerry ?sx " Gerry the Gunner smiled and raised his eyebrows questioningly :sx " Always glad to have one of you boys for company , " he replied .sx " What makes you ask .sx " " You sort of seemed nervous , Gerry , and that's not like you .sx " Some of the bland , good humour faded from the crook's face :sx he leaned across the table and said in an undertone :sx " Not exactly nervous , old lad , but some of my former .sx .. er .sx .. friends don't like the idea of my going straight and .sx .. well .sx .. to put it plainly , they have threatened my life .sx " " Too bad of them !sx " commented Jordan , trying to guess what especially dirty trick Gerry had been guilty of recently .sx " Not , of course , that I care a tinker's cuss , you understand , but I like to be on my guard .sx There's one or two would get me if they could .sx " Gerry drained his glass and filled it again .sx Jordan refused another .sx Thereafter conversation turned on commonplace subjects until they arose to go .sx The detective insisted on paying his share of the meal , much to Gerry's professed annoyance .sx They left as they had come , the crook in front and the detective behind him , having previously agreed to meet again inside the Coliseum .sx If Jordan had to shadow the other he felt that he might just as well do it in comfort and probably more efficiently that way .sx It was nearly midnight when they parted company outside Gerry's rooms in Noel Street , the detective having refused to come in .sx A constable came in sight and Jordan hailed him .sx Then , leaving him to watch the house until he returned , he walked down the street until he found a telephone box and 'phoned in his report to the Yard , receiving instructions to remain on duty until he was relieved .sx Prepared to spend a tedious couple of hours he lit his pipe and strolled back to the uniformed man to whom he remained talking for a few minutes before the other continued on his beat .sx Footsteps sounded round the corner and a man appeared in sight , a tall , broad shouldered individual who appeared to be clad from head to foot in black .sx Jordan noticed automatically the wide brimmed hat and exceptionally long coat as the man came toward him .sx A foreigner of some sorts , but , of course , he was in the very place for that .sx He moved a little to one side to let the man pass , only casually interested , so many odd persons had passed along the street during the time he had been there .sx He .sx was not , in fact , looking at the man when the blow struck him .sx Jordan had a moment of consciousness when he felt something like a great blow on his jaw struck with a padded hammer , and he dropped upon the pavement without a sound except for a little , shuddering sigh .sx The man in black stopped and , reaching out a huge hand , caught him by the collar and lifted him without apparent effort into the passage way .sx From the depths of his long coat he extracted a length of stout cord and proceeded to make Jordan's wrists secure behind his back .sx Then he lashed his ankles and binding a piece of black cloth tightly about his mouth hoisted him over his shoulder and walked quietly up the stairs to Gerry's rooms .sx Laying the unconscious detective in the angle formed by the banisters he crossed to the bedroom door .sx The man in black had boasted that he never killed unless it was necessary .sx Gerry the Gunner came to consciousness with a start .sx The cry which rose to his lips remained frozen upon them and he stared up at the face above him with eyes of horror .sx A swift and ghastly change had come over the crook .sx A dreadful , greenish hue swept over him , his face was bloodless with an overwhelming fear .sx Even the artificial tan seemed to have gone .sx There was nothing left but a sickening travesty of that smiling face .sx " So !sx " murmured the intruder in a harsh whisper , baring his teeth in a contemptuous sneer .sx Subconsciously Gerry recognized those two front teeth .sx But he was too far gone in his terror for coherent thought .sx Death stood at his side , and he knew it .sx With slow deliberation the man in black sat down on the chair by the bed and his big fingers closed slowly over Gerry's palpitating throat and gently squeezed .sx Gerry gave one agonised sob of terror and lapsed into unconsciousness .sx The big man shrugged his shoulders as he released his hold and stood up .sx For a long minute he looked down .sx upon the crook and then he began a systematic search of the room .sx Gerry the Gunner struggled back to consciousness , immediately aware that some awful danger threatened him , but unable to centre his thoughts upon the definite object .sx His heart was beating wildly and even as he lay in the bed he could feel that he was trembling in every limb .sx What had happened ?sx Some dreadful nightmare ?sx He remembered at last and dropped back upon the pillow , from which he had half risen , listening , listening with all the power of concentration that he could command .sx There was no sound it must have been imagination , he thought .sx Recovering his breath in short , stifled sobs he closed his eyes and lay breathing heavily , his heart still racing and his limbs trembling .sx And then he felt them again , those great , hairy fingers upon his throat and his eyes opened wide in fresh terror .sx His lips framed the word " Petrovski " but actually no sound came from them .sx Wolf Bronkhorst nodded slowly and continued to squeeze .sx " Yes , quite so , " he said very quietly .sx " Where are the papers , Huges ?sx " Gerry shook his head helplessly .sx He was almost beyond the mental effort to try and save himself , but the extra pressure upon his throat suddenly brought his danger more clearly before his mind and some measure of sanity returned to him .sx " I sent them away , " he croaked .sx " Let up on my throat and I'll speak .sx " The big fingers slowly unclasped themselves and Gerry ran a trembling hand over his neck .sx " Speak then , " prompted Bronkhorst , his dreadful pale eyes fixed upon Gerry in an unwinking stare which seemed to burn into his very brain .sx " Remember that I have followed in your footsteps many hours this day .sx I know how the police took you to their headquarters .sx and how you have had the protection of one of them since .sx From that I would infer that you have told them where my papers now are deposited .sx But from my knowledge of your character I know that you lied to them .sx I know that you would lie to any man .sx .. except me .sx " Gerry stared at those heavy , merciless lips and those cruel snakelike eyes and knew that he had met his master .sx He desperately hoped not his executioner , too .sx He was eager to speak the truth .sx " Yes , yes , I lied to them , " he blurted out , in a frantic whisper .sx " I did it to save the papers for you .sx " " Where are they ?sx " Bronkhorst's voice , though scarcely raised above a whisper , cut into Gerry's mind like a whiplash and he shivered .sx " I sent them to the Post Office at St. Albans .sx It is the safest way to hide small things for a short while .sx " " Get up , " ordered Bronkhorst .sx " Dress quickly .sx " Without daring to question the command , Gerry slid out of bed and began to scramble into his clothes as fast as his trembling fingers would allow .sx Bronkhorst watched him without signs of any emotion upon his face .sx It .sx might have been a mask for all the movement it made .sx For the first time it occurred to Gerry that Jordan or one of his colleagues was waiting outside and hope stole back into his heart .sx Bronkhorst chuckled , a sound which made the crook start violently , and when Bronkhorst spoke he reeled against the dressing-table and clung to it for support .sx " Your friend of the police sleeps soundly in the passage outside .sx He may or may not waken again .sx Who can say ?sx But hurry , I cannot wait .sx " Urged on by the menace in that harsh voice Gerry completed his dressing .sx " Your keys , " demanded Bronkhorst .sx " Point out the garage key .sx " Gerry produced his keys and indicated the one required .sx " Lead on .sx " With Bronkhorst at his elbow Gerry led the way to .sx his garage in the next street .sx It was proof of his state of mind that he made no effort to escape but blindly obeyed the commands given .sx Five minutes later he was driving along Oxford Street heading for St. Albans .sx Along the Edgware Road , through Willesden and Hendon , out past Elstree he drove before Bronkhorst spoke .sx " Why did you choose St. Albans ?sx " he demanded suddenly .sx " Because it is handy and because it's about the last place they would look for it .sx The police , I mean , " he added hastily .sx Bronkhorst received the information in silence and Gerry ventured an anxious glance at him .sx From the expression of stony calm he could read nothing , but for once in his life he felt glad that he had spoken the absolute truth .sx