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314 We took the Thirty-fourth Street ferry, and ten minutes later were in a cab hurrying downtown.

“We’ll get Simmonds first,” said Godfrey. “I’ve a sort of reciprocity treaty with him. Besides, we’ve got to have an officer to make the arrest. Here we are.”

He jumped out, paid the driver, and hastened up the steps, I after him. As we entered the room, I saw that a clock registered half-past ten.

“Hello, Simmonds,” said Godfrey, to a grizzled, stockily built man, who had sprung to his feet as we entered. “All alone?”

“Yes—the other boys have turned in.”

“That’s good—I’ve got something big for you.”

Simmonds’s face flushed with sudden emotion.

“Really?” he stammered. “Have you really?”

“The biggest catch that’s been made in many a day. But remember our agreement—yours the glory, mine the scoop. Not a word of this to anybody before daybreak.”

“Of course not; of course not,” assented Simmonds, rubbing his hands together eagerly. “What is it?”

“You’ve read about that murder and robbery at the Delroy place near Babylon?”

“Yes, certainly; they’ve got the murderer in jail down there.”

“No, they haven’t,” retorted Godfrey sharply. “We’re going to have him in jail here inside of twenty minutes.”

Simmonds’s eyes began to glisten.

“That would be a big thing,” he said. “Are you sure of the man?”