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gger Conscience； but I gather that rade Waring did not line up in that class。 What was his trouble？〃
〃His trouble；〃 said Billy； 〃was that he stood in with a contractor who was putting up a music…hall； and the contractor put it up with material about as strong as a heap of meringues； and it collapsed on the third night and killed half the audience。〃
〃And then？〃
〃The papers raised a howl； and they got after the contractor； and the contractor gave Waring away。 It killed him for the time being。〃
〃I should have thought it would have had that excellent result permanently；〃 said Psmith thoughtfully。 〃Do you mean to say he got back again after that？〃
〃He had to quit being missioner； of course； and leave the town for a time； but affairs move so fast here that a thing like that blows over。 He made a bit of a pile out of the job； and could afford to lie low for a year or two。〃
〃How long ago was that？〃
〃Five years。 People don't remember a thing here that happened five years back unless they're reminded of it。〃
Psmith lit another cigarette。
〃We will remind them；〃 he said。
Billy nodded。
〃Of course；〃 he said； 〃one or two of the papers against him in this Aldermanic Election business tried to bring the thing up； but they didn't cut any ice。 The other papers said it was a shame； hounding a man who was sorry for the past and who was trying to make good now； so they dropped it。 Everybody thought that Waring was on the level now。 He's been shooting off a lot of hot air lately about philanthropy and so on。 Not that he has actually done a thingnot so much as given a supper to a dozen news…boys； but he's talked； and talk gets over if you keep it up long enough。〃
Psmith nodded adhesion to this dictum。
〃So that naturally he wants to keep it dark about these tenements。 It'll smash him at the election when it gets known。〃
〃Why is he so set on being an Alderman；〃 inquired Psmith。
〃There's a lot of graft to being an Alderman；〃 explained Billy。
〃I see。 No wonder the poor gentleman was so energetic in his methods。 What is our move now； rade Windsor？〃
Billy stared。
〃Why； publish the name； of course。〃
〃But before then？ How are we going to ensure the safety of our evidence？ We stand or fall entirely by that slip of paper； because we've got the beggar's name in the writing of his own collector； and that's proof positive。〃
〃That's all right；〃 said Billy； patting his breast…pocket。 〃Nobody's going to get it from me。〃
Psmith dipped his hand into his trouser…pocket。
〃rade Windsor；〃 he said； producing a piece of paper； 〃how do we go？〃
He leaned back in his chair； surveying Billy blandly through his eye…glass。 Billy's eyes were goggling。 He looked from Psmith to the paper and from the paper to Psmith。
〃Whatwhat the？〃 he stammered。 〃Why； it's it！〃
Psmith nodded。
〃How on earth did you get it？〃
Psmith knocked the ash off his cigarette。
〃rade Windsor；〃 he said； 〃I do not wish to cavil or carp or rub it in in any way。 I will merely remark that you pretty nearly landed us in the soup； and pass on to more congenial topics。 Didn't you know we were followed to this place？〃
〃Followed！〃
By a merchant in what rade Maloney would call a tall…shaped hat。 I spotted him at an early date； somewhere down by Twenty…ninth Street。 When we dived into Sixth Avenue for a space at Thirty…third Street； did he dive； too？ He did。 And when we turned into Forty…second Street； there he was。 I tell you； rade Windsor； leeches were aloof； and burrs non…adhesive pared with that tall…shaped…hatted blighter。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Do you remember； as you came to the entrance of this place； somebody knocking against you？〃
〃Yes； there was a pretty big crush in the entrance。〃
〃There was； but not so big as all that。 There was plenty of room for this merchant to pass if he had wished。 Instead of which he butted into you。 I happened to be waiting for just that； so I managed to attach myself to his wrist with some vim and give it a fairly hefty wrench。 The paper was inside his hand。〃
Billy was leaning forward with a pale face。
〃Jove！〃 he muttered。
〃That about sums it up；〃 said Psmith。
Billy snatched the paper from the table and extended it towards him。
〃Here；〃 he said feverishly； 〃you take it。 Gum； I never thought I was such a mutt！ I'm not fit to take charge of a toothpick。 Fancy me not being on the watch for something of that sort。 I guess I was so tickled with myself at the thought of having got the thing； that it never struck me they might try for it。 But I'm through。 No more for me。 You're the man in charge now。〃
Psmith shook his head。
〃These stately pliments；〃 he said； 〃do my old heart good； but I fancy I know a better plan。 It happened that I chanced to have my eye on the blighter in the tall…shaped hat； and so was enabled to land him among the ribstones； but who knows but that in the crowd on Broadway there may not lurk other； unidentified blighters in equally tall…shaped hats； one of whom may work the same sleight…of…hand speciality on me？ It was not that you were not capable of taking care of that paper： it was simply that you didn't happen to spot the man。 Now observe me closely； for what follows is an exhibition of Brain。〃
He paid the bill； and they went out into the entrance…hall of the hotel。 Psmith； sitting down at a table； placed the paper in an envelope and addressed it to himself at the address of Cosy Moments。 After which； he stamped the envelope and dropped it into the letter…box at the back of the hall。
〃And now； rade Windsor；〃 he said； 〃let us stroll gently homewards down the Great White Way。 What matter though it be fairly stiff with low…browed bravoes in tall…shaped hats？ They cannot harm us。 From me； if they search me thoroughly； they may scoop a matter of eleven dollars； a watch； two stamps； and a packet of chewing…gum。 Whether they would do any better with you I do not know。 At any rate； they wouldn't get that paper； and that's the main thing。〃
〃You're a genius；〃 said Billy Windsor。
〃You think so？〃 said Psmith diffidently。 〃Well； well； perhaps you are right； perhaps you are right。 Did you notice the hired ruffian in the flannel suit who just passed？ He wore a baffled look； I fancy。 And hark！ Wasn't that a muttered 'Failed！' I heard？ Or was it the breeze moaning in the tree…tops？ To…night is a cold； disappointing night for Hired Ruffians； rade Windsor。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
REDUCTIONS IN THE STAFF
THE first member of the staff of Cosy Moments to arrive at the office on the following morning was Master Maloney。 This sounds like the beginning of a 〃Plod and Punctuality；〃 or 〃How Great Fortunes have been Made〃 story； but； as a matter of fact； Master Maloney was no early bird。 Larks who rose in his neighbourhood； rose alone。 He did not get up with them。 He was supposed to be at the office at nine o'clock。 It was a point of honour with him； a sort of daily declaration of independence； never to put in an appearance before nine…thirty。 On this particular morning he was punctual to the minute； or half an hour late； whichever way you choose to look at it。
He had only whistled a few bars of 〃My Little Irish Rose；〃 and had barely got into the first page of his story of life on the prairie when Kid Brady appeared。 The Kid； as was his habit when not in training； was smoking a big black cigar。 Master Maloney eyed him admiringly。 The Kid； unknown to that gentleman himself； was Pugsy's ideal。 He came from the Plains； and had； indeed； once actually been a cowboy； he was a ing champion； and he could smoke black cigars。 It was； therefore； without his usual well…what…is…it…now？ air that Pugsy laid down his book； and prepared to converse。
〃Say； Mr。 Smith or Mr。 Windsor about； Pugsy？〃 asked the Kid。
〃Naw； Mr。 Brady； they ain't came yet；〃 replied Master Maloney respectfully。
〃Late； ain't they？〃
〃Sure。 Mr。 Windsor generally blows in before I do。〃
〃Wonder what's keepin' them。〃
〃P'raps； dey've bin put out of business；〃 suggested Pugsy nonchalantly。
〃How's that？〃
Pugsy related the events of the previous day； relaxing something of his austere calm as he did so。 When he came to the part where the Table Hill allies swooped down on the unsuspecting Three Pointers； he was almost animated。
〃Say；〃 said the Kid approvingly； 〃that Smith guy's got more grey matter under his thatch than you'd think to look at him。 I〃
〃rade Brady；〃 said a voice in the doorway； 〃you do me proud。〃
〃Why； say；〃 said the Kid； turning； 〃I guess the laugh's on me。 I didn't see you； Mr。 Smith。 Pugsy's been tellin' me how you sent him for the Table Hills yesterday。 That was cute。 It was mighty smart。 But say； those guys are goin' some； ain't they now！ Seems as if they was dead set on puttin' you out of business。〃
〃Their manner yesterday； rade Brady； certainly suggested the presence of some sketchy outline of such an ideal in their minds。 One Sam； in particular； an ebony…hued sportsman； threw himself into the task with great vim。 I rather fancy he is waiting for us with his revolver to this moment。 But why worry？ Here we are； safe and sound； and rade Windsor may be expected to arrive at any moment。 I see； rade Brady； that you have been matched against one Eddie Wood。〃
〃It's about that I wanted to see you； Mr。 Smith。 Say； now that things have been and brushed up so； what with these gang guys layin' for you the way they're doin'； I guess you'll be needin' me around here。 Isn't that right？ Say the word and I'll call off this Eddie Wood fight。〃
〃rade Brady；〃 said Psmith with some enthusiasm； 〃I call that a sporting offer。 I'm very much obliged。 But we mustn't stand in your way。 If you eliminate this rade Wood； they will have to give you a chance against Jimmy Garvin； won't they？〃
〃I guess that's right； sir；〃 said the Kid。 〃Eddie stayed nineteen rounds against Jimmy； and if I can put him away； it gets me into line with Jimmy； and he can't side…step me。〃
〃Then go in and win； rade Brady。 We shall miss you。 It will be as if a ray of sunshine had been removed from the office。 But you mustn't throw a chance away。 We shall be all right； I think。〃
〃I'll train at White Plains；〃 said the Kid。 〃That ain't far from here； so I'll be pretty near in case I'm wanted。 Hullo； who's here？〃
He pointed to the door。 A small boy was standing there； holding a note。
〃Mr。 Smith？ 〃
〃Sir to you；〃 said Psmith courteously。
〃P。 Smith？〃
〃The same。 This is your lucky day。〃
〃Cop at Jefferson Market give me dis to take to youse。〃
〃A cop in Jefferson Market？〃 repeated Psmith。 〃I did not know I had friends among the constabulary there。 Why； it's from rade Windsor。〃 He opened the envelope and read the letter。 〃Thanks；〃 he said； giving the boy a quarter…dollar。
It was apparent the Kid was politely endeavouring to veil his curiosity。 Master Maloney had no such scruples。
〃What's in de letter； boss？〃 he inquired。
〃The letter； rade Maloney； is from our Mr。 Windsor； and relates in terse language the following facts； that our editor last night hit a policeman in the eye； and that he was sentenced this morning to thirty days on Blackwell's Island。〃
〃He's de guy！〃 admitted Master Maloney approvingly。
〃What's that？〃 said the Kid。 〃Mr。 Windsor bin punchin' cops！ What's he bin doin' that for？〃
〃He gives no clue。 I must go and find out。 Could you help rade Maloney mind the shop for a few moments while I push round to Jefferson Market and make inquiries？〃
〃Sure。 But say； fancy Mr。 Windsor cuttin' loose that way！〃 said the Kid admiringly。
The Jefferson Market Police Court is a little way down town； near Washington Square。 It did not take Psmith long to reach it； and by the judicious expenditure of a few dollars he was enabled to obtain an interview with Billy in a back room。
The chief editor of Cosy Moments was seated on a bench； looking upon the world through a pair of much blackened eyes。 His general appearance was dishevelled。 He had the air of a man who has been caught in the machinery。
〃Hullo； Smith；〃 he said。 〃You got my note all right then？〃
Psmith looked at him； concerned。
〃rade Windsor；〃 he said； 〃what on earth has been happening to you？〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 said Billy。 〃That's nothing。〃
〃Nothing！ You look as if you had been run over by a motor…car。〃
〃The cops did that；〃