"
Barney gasped at this. He knew, as every one in the room also knew,
that Barlow was lying. But Barlow held all the cards. Rough and
ruthless police politician that he was, he made it his business always
to hold the highest cards. As sick of soul as a man can be, Barney
realized that Barlow was doing exactly what Barlow always did--was
swinging to the side that had the most evidence and that would prove
most advantageous to him. And Barney realized that he was suffering
the appointed fate of all stool-pigeons who are found out by their
fellow criminals to be stool-pigeons. Such informers are of no further
use, and according to the police code they must be given punishment so
severe as to dissipate any unhealthy belief on the public's part that
there could ever have been any alliance between the two.
"I've used this young lady who seems to have been Jimmie Carlisle's
daughter and now seems to be the daughter of this old-timer Joe
Ellison, for a little private sleuthing on my own hook," Barlow went
on--for it was the instinct of the man to claim the conception and
leadership of any idea in whose development he had a part. He spoke in
a brusque tone--as why should he not, since he was addressing an
audience he lumped together as just so many crooks? "Through this
little stunt I pulled to-night, I've got on to your curves, Barney
Palmer.
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