"But Mr. Ridgeway, sir, it is now, _now_ while you are here that they are dangerous."
"Unfortunately not." He took a paper out of his pocket and handed it over to O'Brien. Lawrence looked over his shoulder and slowly spelled out the words of a curiously printed anonymous letter. It was written on heavy wrapping paper, and read:
"This is not a threat. It is simply to tell you what will happen. If the crown jewels that are lying in the Treasury Building and the papers intended for a certain republic are taken out of this country, that day, mind you, the President of the United States will forfeit his life and so will you. You will remember this, because it is the truth. Make no mistakes."
O'Brien whistled. "So _that's_ your little scheme, is it?" He pondered. "Of course it will be easy to take care of the president," he said. "And you will be safe up in the air, but no one knows what else they will do. I think it's up to O'Brien to get after them. Well, thanks to this lad, I know where to find most of the gang. When do you start?"
"I want to go tomorrow," said Mr. Ridgeway. "You see we have really two journeys to make; two errands to accomplish, and the sooner we do accomplish them, the better it will be. I will go from here to the White House and have my papers put in order, and have the custodian of the jewels ready with them tomorrow morning."
"Do you specially mind when you start?" asked O'Brien. "I wish you could set the time for evening. I want a whole day to get hold of my little family party. Even if I start tonight, it may take me that long."
"Not at all; not at all!" said Mr. Ridgeway. "It makes no difference, only you can see by this letter that those miscreants must be locked up."
"I will attend to that if I have to have a fight with them myself," said O'Brien.
"Then let us be going," said Mr. Ridgeway. "Lawrence, do you want to come down as far as Pennsylvania Avenue and keep the car there for me?"
When Mr. Ridgeway left the car a safe distance up the broad glittering avenue, Lawrence settled back and proceeded to enjoy himself. One of the most beautiful thoroughfares in the world stretched before him, and along it went representatives of every country and clime. He was intent on the pageant when a whining voice at his elbow recalled him to the present. A beggar, ragged, blear eyed, and out of place in the dazzling cleanness of the avenue, had shuffled up to the curb and was begging.