Show SYNOPSIS mad dan maitland Malt land on reaching his new york bad elor club met an attract alve young woman at the door janitor 0 hagan assured him no one had been within that day dan discovered a worn an s finger prints in dust on his desk along with a letter from his attorney maitland Malt land dined with bannerman his at torney dan set out for greenfields to get his family jewels during his walk to the country seat he met the young woman in gray whom be had seen leav ang his bachelors club her auto had brol en down he fixed it by a ruse she lost him maitland Malt land on reaching home surprised lady in gray cracking the safe containing his gems she apparently took him tor a well known crook daniel anasty halt hypnotized maitland Malt land opened his safe took the jewels and ga e them to her farst forming a part in crime the real dan anasty dougl t by police of the world appeared on the same mission maitland Malt land overcame him he met the girl outside the house and they sped on to new york in her au to he had the jewels and she promised to meet him that day maitland Malt land received a mr snaith introducing himself as a to shield the girl in gray maitland Malt land about to show him the jew els supposedly lost was felled by a blow from snaith s cane the latter proved to be anasty himself and he secured the rama anasty who was maitland Malt land s dou ble masqueraded as the latter the criminal kept maitland s engagement with the g rl in gray he gave her the gems after tailing in love at first sight they ere to meet and divide the loot malt land revived and regretted missing his engagement anasty masquerading as maitland Malt land narrowly avoided capture through mysterious tip tl e girl in gray via ted ma fiand s apartments during 1 is absence a d returned gems being dis covered on return maitland Malt land without cash railed up his home and 1 card a woman s voice expostulating anasty d agu sed as maitland Malt land told heri his real identity and realizing himself tricked tried to wring from her the location of the gems then he proposed marriage A crash was heard at the front door malt land started tor home he found anasty and the girl in his rooms again he over whelmed the crook allowing him to es cape to shield the young woman CHAPTER XI continued not quite maitland Malt land contradicted brusquely wearying of the com tion you say you met me on the stoop here at what clocks one nd yeh takes me to lunch at eugene s ah when did I 1 leave youa I 1 leaves yeh there at two well 0 hagan will testify that he left me in these rooms in dressing gown and slippers at about one at four he found me on this divan bound and gagged by courtesy of your friend mr anasty now when was I 1 with you in harlema at seven clock to the minute yeh comes never mind at ten minutes to seven I 1 took a cab from here to the primordial club where I 1 dined at seven precisely and more interposed the cabman eagerly I 1 took yer there sir thank ou furthermore sleuth you say that you followed me around town from seven clock until whenn I 1 said stammered the plain clothes man purple with contusion no matter I 1 dian didn t leave the primordial until a quarter to eleven but all this aside as I 1 understand it ou are asserting that having given 5 ou all this trouble to day and know ing that you were after me I 1 bellber abely hopped into a cab 15 minutes ago came up fifth avenue at such breakneck speed that this officer thought it was a runaway and finally lumped out and ian upstairs here to fire a revolver three times tor no pur pose whatsoever beyond bringing you gentlemen about my earsa hickey s aw sagged the cabby os covered his mouth with a huge red paw and made choking noises pass it up saige pass it up he whispered hoarsely hut yer trap snapped the de teethe I 1 know what I 1 m doin this crooks clever all right but I 1 got the kibosh on him this time lemme alone he squared his shoulders blustering to save his face I 1 dont know why yeh done it then tell you maitland cut in crisply it you 11 be good enough to listen and concisely narrated the of the past 24 hours beginning at the moment when he had dincov bied anasty in maitland manor save that he substituted himself tor the man who had escaped from higgins and eliminated all mention of the gray girl his statement was exact and con evincing As he came down to the moment when he had called up from the bartholdi and heard mysterious sounds in his flat substantiating his story by indicating the receiver that dangled useless from the telephone even hickey was staggered but not beaten when maitland ceased speaking the detective smiled superiority to such invention very pretty he conceded yeh en tell it all to the magistrate to morrow morn ing meantime yeh II 11 have time to think up a yarn explain in how it come that a crook like anasty made three attempts in one day to steal some jewels nd get em where were they all this timea in safekeeping safe keeping maitland Malt land lied manfully with a furtive glance toward the alcove pursued mr hickey true mine with eq serious ly sleuth are you trying to make a charge against me of stealing my own property 7 yeh done it tor a blind nd that s enough officer take this man to the station make the complaint the policeman hesitated and at this juncture 0 hagan put in an appear lugging a heavy brown paper bundle beg pardon listher maitland sor 7 well 0 hagane the crowd at the dure sor is dish persed the janitor reported A couple av cops 1 em along an tanned em they re askin for the two av ees with careless nod to the policeman and detective yeh heard what I 1 said hickey an ahe officer s look the detective stepped forward and unlocked the handcuffs im chinkin 0 hagan pursued calmly ignoring the presence of the outsiders these do be the soot that damned chafe av the stole off ye the day sor A la ad brought ut at ay eleven clock sor wid bartic ular ray quest ut be to ye at once the papers tore an 0 hagan maitland ordered sharp ly undo that parcel I 1 think I 1 can satisfy you now sleuth what kind of a suit did your luncheon acquaintance weara gray an here ut is 0 hagan an bounced arraying the clothing upon a chair ivry doam thing aven down to the socks and a note for ye sor As he shook out the folds of the coat a square white envelope dropped to the floor the janitor retrieved and offered it to his employer dear mr maitland he read aloud As you will probably sur mise my motive in thus restoring to you a portion of your property pio perty ft not altogether uninfluenced by personal and selfish considerations in brief I 1 wish to discover whether 01 not you are to be at home tonight it not I 1 shall take pleasure in calling it the contrary I 1 shall feel that in justice to myself I 1 must borego the pleasure of improving an acquaintance begun un der auspices so unfavorable in either case permit me to thank you tor the use of your wardrobe which quaintly enough has outlived its usefulness to me a fat headed detective named hickey will tell you why and to ex tend to you expression of my highest consideration believe me I 1 am en yours daniel anasty signed added hickey mechanically his face working satisfied by way of reply but ungraciously the detective stepped forward and un locked he handcuffs maitland stood erect smiling thank you very much ale ith I 1 shan t forget you 0 hagan tossing the janitor the keys from his desk you 11 find some ah lemon pop and root beer in the b iffet this officer and his friends will no doubt join you in a friendly drink down stairs cabby I 1 want a word with you good morning gentle men good morning sleuth and he showed them the door I 1 shall be at your service officer he called over the janitor s shoulder at any time to morrow morning it not here 0 hagan will tell you where to find me and 0 hagan the janitor fell back keep them at least an hour maitland told him guardedly and say nothing the irishman pledged his bisci ebion by a silent look maitland turned back to the cabby you did me a good turn just now he began don t mention it sir I 1 ve carried you hotten before this evenin and ex cuse my sayin so I 1 never ad a ta e as tipped handsomer and somer its a real pleas ure sir to be 0 service thank you returned maitlan 1 eying him in speculative wise I 1 wonder the man was a rough burly english man of one of the most intelligent it not intellectual kind the british cab by as a type has few superiors for sheer quickness of wit and under standing this man had been ened and tempered by his contact with american his eyes were shrewd bis face honest if eath er beaten his attitude respectful I 1 ve another ue for you tonight to night maitland decided it you are at lib erty and discreet the final word was a question flung over his der as he turned toward the escritoire yes sir said the man thought fully I 1 allus can drive sir even when im brinkm ardest and cant see nothing lesa youve been drinking to nighta maitland smiled quietly stand ing at the small writing desk and ex tr acting a roll of bills from a con cealey drawer im fair blind sir very well maitland turned and extended his hand and despite his professed affliction the cabby s eyes bulged as he appreciated the size of the bill my forrd he gasped stowing it a a in the cavernous depths of a trousers pocket you will wait outside said mait lai d until I 1 come out or or send somebody for you to take wherever directed oh all right not an other word the door closed behind the over whelmed nighthawk and the latch clicked loudly for a space maitland stood in the hallway troubled ampre henslee heart strangely oppressed vis on clouded by the memory of the girl as he had seen her only a few min tes since as she had stood be neath the chandelier after acting upon her primary clear headed impulse to give her rescuer the aid of the light he seemed to very clearly her liast figure swaying a quiver with flight and solicitude care tor him her face sensitive and sweet beneath its ruddy crown of hair that of a child waking from evil dreams her ees seeking his with their dumb mes sage of appeal and of he dared not name what else 1 orborn pitiful little figure odd it seen ed that he should fear to face her again alone that he should linger re to doss the threshold of his study mistrustful and afraid alike of himself and of hera thief for what should he say to her other than the words that voiced the hunger of his hearte yet it he spoke wolds such as those to to a thief what would be the end of it alla hat did it mattera surely he wl knew the world wherein he lived and moved and had his being knew bitter wel the worth of its verdicts the world might go hang for all he cared at least his life was his own whether to make or to mar and he had not to answer for it to any power this side of the gates of darkness ard it by any act of his the world should be given a man and a woman in exchange for a thief and an idler per has in the filial reckoning his life might not be accounted altogether wasted he set bach his shoulders and in deeply lightening and stepped into the study resolved miss he called huskily and stopped reminded that not yet did he even 1 now her name it Is safe now he amended more clearly and steadily to come out it ou will he heard no response the long gleaming folds of the portieres hung lebs still a sharp and staccato clatter of hoofs that had risen in the street might have drowned her voice it you please 7 he said again louah the silence sang sibilant in his ears and he grew conscious of a sense of anxiety and tear stifling in its intensity at length striding forward with a swift gesture he flung the hangings aside CHAPTER XII on reconsideration gently but with decision sergt hickey set his face against the allure ment of his wine cup and the imbor tuni ties of his fellow officers he was tired he affirmed with a weary nod the lateness of the hour rendered h m quite indisposed tor con vivial dalliance even the sight of 0 hagan seduction incarnated in the vestibule a bottle under either arm clutching a box of cigars jealously with both hands tailed to move the temperate soul isiah he waved temptation aside with a gesture 0 finality I 1 don t guess take bothin to night thanks G night all and wheeling shaped a course tor broadway Bio adway the early morning air breathed chill but grateful to his fevered brow odd ly enough in view of the fact that he had indulged in no very violent exer else he found himself perspiring pro kusely now and again he saw fit to pause his hat and utilizing a large soiled bandana with grim abandon at such times his face would be up turned eyes trained upon the dim in finites beyond the pale moon smitten sky and he would sigh profoundly not the furnace sigh of a lover think ing of his mistress but the heartfelt and moving sigh of the man of years and cares who has drunk deep of that cup of bitterness called unappreciated genius then tucking the clammy bandana into a hip pocket and withdrawing his beaming gaze from the heavens would struggle on with a funereal counte nance as the outward and visible mani fe station of a mind burdened with mundane concerns such ae one might shrewdly surmise that auto graphed portrait of a deputy commis aloner of police which the detective s lynx like eyes had discovered on malt land s escritoire unhappily toward the close of their conference or pos sibly the mighty processes of depart mental law with its attendant annoy ances of charges preferred hearings before an obviously prejudiced yet high principled martinet reprimands and rulings red in rank I 1 breaking transfers or yet a third possibility with the prevailing rate of wage as contrasted between detec alve and sidewalk and the cost of living as contrasted between manhattan on the one hand and ja ma ca bronxville Bronx ville or st george sta ten island on the other A dimly lighted side en trancy pres antly loomed invitingly in the ser geant s path t he glanced up some thing surprised to find himself on sixth avenue then bowed with the fatigue of a busy day turned aside entering a dingy back room separated from the bar proper at that illicit hour by a curtain of green baize A number of tables whose clopp tation rosewood tops shone dimly in the murky gaslight set about here and there tor the accommodation of a herd of sleepy eyed case hardened into a vacant chair beside one of these the detective dropped and barly requested the lantern jawed waiter who presently bustled to his side to back up a tub of suds george nan in response to a concerned query I 1 am t beelin up to much to night BE CONTINUED |