"Maybe it took these citizens that long to find out how useful he is to the community," Anderson said.

"That's one thing," Grave Digger conceded. "What are some other things?"

"The commissioner didn't say. He doesn't always take me and the captain into his confidence," the lieutenant said with slight sarcasm.

"Only when he's having nightmares about Digger and me shooting down all these innocent people," Coffin Ed said.

" ' Ours not to reason why, ours but to do or die,' " Anderson quoted.

"Those days are gone forever," Grave Digger said. "Wait until the next war and tell somebody that."

"Well, let's get down to business," Lieutenant Anderson said. "O'Malley is co-operating with us."

"Why shouldn't he? It's not costing him anything and it might save his life. O'Malley's a rat, but he's not a fool."

"I'm going to feel downright ashamed nursemaiding that ex-con," Coffin Ed said.

"Orders are orders," Anderson said. "And maybe it's not going to be like you think."

"I just don't want anybody to tell me that crime doesn't pay," Grave Digger said and stood up.

"You know the story about the prodigal son," Anderson said.

"Yeah, I know it. But do you know the story about the fatted calf?"

"What about the fatted calf?"

"When the prodigal son returned, they couldn't find the fatted calf. They looked high and low and finally had to give up. So they went to the prodigal son to apologize, but when they saw how fat he'd gotten to be, they killed him and ate him in the place of the fatted calf."

"Yes, but just don't let that happen to our prodigal son," Anderson warned them unsmilingly.

At that instant the telephone rang. Lieutenant Anderson picked up the receiver.

A big happy voice said, " Captain? "