“Yes,” said Blizzard with some grimness.  “There must be no frolicking.  And mind this, Jimmie:  the more good American citizens who don’t speak English that you can corral the better.  We don’t want intelligence.  We want blind obedience with a hope of gain.  And they mustn’t know what they are to do till it’s time to do it.  They should begin to come into the city by the middle of December, a few at a time.  Let ’em come to me half a dozen at once for money, weapons, and orders.”

Again O’Hagan nodded.  This time he rose, and the two shook hands across the table.  O’Hagan seemed to labor under a certain emotion; but Blizzard was calm,

“Keep me posted,” he said, “and for God’s sake, Jimmie, cut out the little things.  You’re in big now.  Forget your troubles and your wrongs.  Leave liquor alone and dynamite.  Remember that on the 15th of next January you and I’ll be square at last with law and order and oppression.  Good luck to you!”

When O’Hagan had gone Blizzard moved his chair so that it faced the door of the junk-closet.  And he smiled occasionally as if he were one of an audience at some diverting play.  From time to time he took a drink of whiskey and licked his lips.  An hour passed, two hours, and always the legless man kept his agate eyes upon the closet door.

When two hours and fifteen minutes had gone, he drew an automatic pistol from his pocket, and held it ready for instant use.  A few minutes later, finding his original plan of humor a little tedious in the working out, he spoke in a clear, incisive voice: 

“Better come out of that now or I shall begin to shoot.”

The door opened, and Rose staggered into the room.  After a short pause, during which she swayed and gasped for breath, an automatic pistol fell with a clatter from her nerveless fingers.  She sank to the floor all in a heap and began to cry hysterically.

[Illustration:  The door opened, and Rose staggered into the room]

Blizzard slid from his chair and secured her pistol.  His face wore an expression of amused tolerance.  “Tell me all about it,” he said.  “Crying can’t do any good, and talking may.  You hid in the closet to listen.  It’s not the first time.  I found one of your combs, and saw where you’d brushed away the dirt so’s not to spoil your dress.  Now I’d like to know how much you know, and whom you’ve told it to?”

“What’s the use?” said Rose with sudden desperation.  “You’ve got me—­nobody’ll ever know from me what I’ve heard to-night.  You’re going to kill me.”

“I doubt it,” said Blizzard.  “Now look up and tell me all about everything.”

“Well,” she said, “I’ve been spying on you.”

“I know that.  I knew that the day you came.  When you said you loved me I knew you were lying.”

“At first,” she said, “I passed over everything I could find out about you.  It wasn’t much.”

“I took care of that.”