The looker-on

"And what about the girl?""It's a most mysterious affair—a complete mystery!" I answered."And I suppose you'll keep it so for a couple of days longer, eh?""Of course. I've worked it up for all it's worth in to-night's 'special.' Seen it?""Yes. A first-class story. What's the real truth?""Mystery—with a capital M, my dear fellow. Even Whitlock, at Scotland Yard, is utterly in the dark.""He tells you so.""He is. He and I are pals. He often tells me the truth first, and then tells me the picturesque lie for the paper.""You're frank, Keene, if nothing else.""Frank! Well, it's the truth," I declared, lighting a fresh cigarette. "You recollect the Pimlico mystery? Well, Whitlock told me the truth from the first, but we kept up the sensation for four days—until the arrest."