I showed him my shield and told him what I was after.

“What’s going on in there?” I asked, pointing to the house.

“Sure that’s Mike Reed’s,” said the officer. “You must be a new hand at the business if you don’t know Big Mike.”

Now I didn’t know Big Mike, and I said so, whereupon I was informed that the big one ran a little game. How well the fellow knew!

“Is it a tough place?” I asked.

“So, so,” replied the officer.

I was too proud to ask him to help me. I was resolved to capture that man myself and take him to the station—something I had never done as yet.

But I am willing to admit that I was all in a tremble when I pulled Mike Reed’s bell.

There was no trouble in getting in.

One sharp look on the part of the darky door-tender, and I was admitted.