“That’s it, that’s it!” Babe exclaimed excitedly. “You see—that’s the story. See how easy it is. You come home from the camp expectin’ to find me workin’ in the Five and Ten like when you left. I’m gone and you can’t find out where I’m livin’. If they question me why I didn’t let you know my address I’ll have a story ready for them. Then you was lookin’ around for me everywhere an’ couldn’t find me. You was worried. You was carryin’ your gun because you was workin’ late hours with your cab. You got a permit anyhow. Then tonight you meet a friend who tells you where I am. You come around to this street but you forgot the number of the house. So you wait around, thinkin’ to see me come out. Then all of a sudden you see the shutter on this window fly open and spot me leaning out waving to you. Then you see someone put their hand over my mouth and drag me away from the window. You rush up here, break in the door—and catch a big nigger tearing the clothes off me. When he starts for you with murder in his eyes he picks up a chair—see that one with the leg broken off it—then you pull your gun and shoot him!”

The Bearcat nodded his head comprehendingly.

Babe began to laugh a little hysterically.

“That’s right! That’s right! See, you killed him that way! They’ll believe you! They’ll believe you! Call the police! Call the police! Call ’em now! See, I’ll be ready!”

She sprang up and commenced to put on the torn lace dress. It hung on her in shreds. When the cops saw that, they could have no doubt but what she had been assaulted.

The Bearcat dragged his benumbed body to the phone. He lifted the receiver and said to the operator:

“Send a policeman. There’s been a murder here.

XXV THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE

BALDWIN had spent a sleepless night at the University Club. He hadn’t dared to return to the Riverside Drive apartment. The more he thought of Babe the more he wanted news as to what might have happened to her. In the first editions of the morning papers he found the answer to all his questions. The screaming headlines told him the length to which Babe had gone to insure his safety.

The scare-head of a tabloid struck him dumb with surprise.

HUSBAND SLAYS NEGRO ATTACKING WIFE

Underneath was a picture of that battered room with the body of the slain man covered with a sheet. There was also a picture of Babe and her husband, taken as they were being led to a police van.

Another headline in bold black type read:

PRIZEFIGHTER CONFESSES TO KILLING HARLEM ‘POLICY KING’ IN DEFENCE OF WIFE’S HONOR