the old City Hall, as it was even then known, and leading

the foul court-rooms and offices still hung about the entrance, and the

office door, saluted,

an," he said, "

is desk, nodded with the carele

u, Mr. Wilton,"

s name, Detective Coogan did not notice it. But

declared. "My name is

the policeman. "Just step into Morris' room, C

"this won't do, Wilton. We've had to overlook a good deal, of cour

not-" I began, whe

n on the old man's play, of course, especially as we don't know what his game is." Detective Coogan appeared to regret this admission that he was not omniscient, and went on hastily: "You know a

-knows-what crimes. If I took my friend's name, I was to invite the career of adventure of which I had just had a taste. And while this was flashing through my mind, I wondered idly who the "old m

s of necessity

n," I said carelessly, "it's all right. I thought

chance shot

from all I can learn it's on account of your confounded schemes. We've got to know where we stand, or there will be t

potent Unknown seemed to be my only weapon in the contest wit

y disturbed. "But if it comes to a choic

rifle," said I, voicing my hope. "Perhap

the morgue, t

I asked as we walked

back room of the Hurricane Deck-the water-front

best of times it could not be a place of cheer. In the hour before daybreak, with the chill air of the morning almost suppressing the yellow gaslights

said Coogan, o

ty, but its details started forth from

as stabbed. The knife went to the heart. Here he was hit with something heavy and blunt; but i

y resolution

t was, I recognized it. It

on a bench, and the detective

he said, not unkindly. "I didn'

as able to look steadily at the gruesome sur

man?" asked t

es

s n

ling to transfer the whole of my identity

e a re

Then, in answer to the detective's question, I told the story

f the men? To reco

s able-the man with the face of the wo

s listless air, and look

your game, Wi

ts," I said sullenly, a little d

ect you to keep the straight

turn to be

kout," I said with a

you're playing with me to stop this inquiry by dragging in-well, we need

you please,"

ve ripped o

ng, Wilton, I'd clap yo

to take the risks

t me for a

t," he said. "But this is a stunne

hed I

should not be at a loss to

he said with a groan. "We've got to have a sto

ggestion for me a

to do with this man here. Maybe it didn't happen. Anyhow, just think it was a dream. This was a water-front row-tough saloon-ki

nd was too numbed to s

were stirring in the streets as Detective Coogan led the wa

ilton," he said, "but I suspect you'd be

e dawn of my first morning in San Francisco, mind and body at the