on a man like that. I won’t, if I see him again.”
“Well, gentlemen, I think I’ll turn in,” Eden remarked.
“Good night,” said Madden, and the boy went out.
In his bedroom he found Ah Kim enraged in lighting the fire. He closed the door carefully behind him.
“Well, Charlie, I’ve just been in a poker game.”
“A fact already noted by me,” smiled Chan.
“Shaky Phil has made a start on us, anyhow. He got forty-seven precious iron men this quiet evening.”
“Humbly suggest you be careful,” advised Chan.
“Humbly believe you’re right,” laughed Eden. “I was hoping you were in the offing when Thorn and our friend went to the gate.”
“Indeed I was,” remarked Chan. “But moonlight so fierce, near approach was not possible.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure of one thing, after tonight,” Eden told him. “P.J. Madden never saw Shaky Phil before. Either that, or he’s the finest actor since Edwin Booth.”
“Thorn, however—”
“Oh, Thorn knew him all right. But he wasn’t the least bit glad to see him. You know, Thorn’s whole manner suggested to me that Shaky Phil has something on him.”
“That might be possible,” agreed Chan. “Especially come to think of my latest discovery.”
“You’ve found something new, Charlie? What?”
“This evening, when Thorn haste to town in little car and I hear noisome snores of Madden who sleep on bed, I make explicit search in secretary’s room.”
