CHAPTER XIII.
FIRE IN THE HOLD.
Everyone except the detective himself seemed astounded.

The clever officer, who had played his part so well, was as cool as ice.
The Frenchman cried: "But zis pot--eet ees not settailed to whom eet belong yet!" The detective stepped back to his chair.
"The easiest way to settle that is by a show-down," he said.

"Under the circumstances, further bettering is out of the question." "And I rather think I am in the showdown," choked out the prisoner.
"I'll need this money to defend myself when I come to trial." "You shall have it," assured Dan Badger--"if you win it." "Well, I think I'll win it," said the ironed man, spreading out his hand.

"I have four aces, and you can't beat that." "Oh, my dear saire!" cried the Frenchman.

"Zat ees pretty gude, but I belief zis ees battaire.