Show I 1 II CHAPTER 53 Hardly had the door of Horn Blashfield Blash- Blash field Bowers Bower's office closed behind Picard when my mind was made up I must telephone Bob apprise him of the unexpected turn affairs had taken and caution him not to involve Bower and his firm ff If such a thing could be avoided I was as lucky enough to catch the elevator elevator elevator ele ele- vator from which Id I'd just stepped as asIt asit asit it was about to descend and as soon as it reached the street floor I hurried hurried hurried hur hur- ried to the cigar store telephone booth in the lobby of the building I To central I gave the private phone phon number of the district chief of the se secret secret secret se- se cret service and added In a hurry please The telephone girl must have had instructions for that number to be connected connected connected con con- with special speed for almost instantly came an answering Hello Put Mr Clark Clarl on the wire please I I said Then as Bob answered This Is Jack Jacle old man Ive I've followed your friend all right and and and- Where is he now now Bobs Bob's voice vi vibrated vibrated vibrated vi- vi with eagerness Here in the Tyler building Bood Bobs Bob's tone was wis exultant That gentleman is a man the chiefs chief's been after for some time But Bob I exclaimed 1 I dont don't want to get friends of mine in trouble trouble- Picard went into Bowers Bower's office There was an exclamation of surprise surprise surprise sur sur- prise from Bob then a curt Walt Waft a minute and I heard him consult someone someone someone some some- one at the other end nd of the wire Then BOll Bob said Hello Hello Jack I I Yes I answered The chief says not to worry about Bower lIes lIe's O O. K Its It's often an openIng openIng opening open- open I Ing move in the game these fellows play to retain the best lawyers in town I You stick right there and dont don't t let lei Picard out of your sight Britts Britt's machine machine machine ma ma- chine is waiting outside and we will willbe willbe be over in two minutes It seemed emed barely that long even to tomy tomy tomy my excited nerves when standing Inthe in inthe inthe the doorway where I could watch the elevators 1 I saw a limousine draw up at the curb and Bob jump o out t He was instantly followed fallowed by a sharp I eyed brisk mannered man B Bob b Introduced as Inspector Britt of af the service Britt gave me a short nod ned of acknowledgment then turned to give some instructions to two men who had followed him out aut of the machine and were standing at a respectful distance distance dis dis- dis- dis tance Then entering the building the In Inspector Inspector inspector In- In showing his shield to the elevator elevator elevator ele ele- vator starter said ald How How many elevators Two sir said the round eyed starter IIo lIow s many stairways Ys One One there The starter pointed painted it out Hold Hald this elevator Ring fling pr pI the theother theother theother other one to come down quick He turned to his two men JI cover the We stairs Joe hold the other elevator elevator elevator eleva eleva- tor here let anyone anone go up who wants I to but bring no one down Then Britt Bob and I got Into the 1 I first elevator at the chiefs chief's command com com- mand Make l this car an express to the tenth he said to the elevator manSoon man Soon we were hurrying down the corridor to the office of Horn Blashfield Blashfield Blash- Blash field Bower Into which not ten minutes before Id I'd seen Picard goI go I was close at the inspectors inspector's heels as he opened the door doar To m my surprise the office was de deserted deserted deserted de- de save for the girl at the tele telephone telephone tele- tele phone switchboard who looked tIe I up from the book she was reading startled startled star star- tied at our precipitous entrance Wheres heres the man who came In a a. moment a ago ago o I asked anxiously What man 7 She seemed surprised Theres no ore here Everyone's out at lunch Britt turned and looked at me inquiringly In Inquiringly In- In But I saw him come in here I insisted A tall blond man in a a. dark suit and fedora hat He lie came in this door not ten minutes ago ago Oh him exclaimed the operator He asked for a Mr zones Jones When I Isaid Isaid Isaid said there was no one here by that name he seemed disappointed He waited a few seconds and then said he must have made a mistake He was very apologetic Then he lie went out Tricked you yeu you said Britt sharply Knew he was watched Wise Vise bird birdI I felt crestfallen at my stupidity but took new courage as the telephone girl added It seemed to me though that Id I'd seen him somewhere before Where Britt and I demanded In one breath Let me see see The girl racked her mind to recollect Give me a second dont don't don t stare so Im I'm trying tr trying hard to remember To bp hI continued 1 |