Tom wheeled upon him on the instant. “So you say,” he retorted. “That’s one of the things the boss does not do. I’ve known him as long as anyone and he always plays square with the boys. Mr. Hughes is a square grafter.”

“Huh!” said the detective. “Wait and see.”

“It looks fishy to me,” said someone, and Labar knew that he had succeeded in instilling doubt into at least one mind.

“Tom’s right,” said Sophie Lengholm. “Larry has his little ways but he doesn’t snitch and he isn’t a coward.”

“But if he has gone?” wailed a tearful voice, in which Labar recognised the accents of Mrs. Gertstein. “What shall we do?”