All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A THIEVES’ “Um—swell. What took that hole?” ‘Rollins has been showing me the city for the past week, and wanted to let me see the rough as well as the smooth,” Parks and the lieutenant exchanged glances. “You're just over?” the former asked after a second or two. ‘“Yes—lI came across on the Ran- dania ten days ago.” ‘And what’s your name and ad- dress?” I gave him both, and he nodded recognition of the name of the hotel. “Well, Mr. Mason, you look all right and you talk all right, but I'd like to know why your friend Rollins you to came to me and said'that if I'd guaran- tee his safety in MacGregor’s saloon to-night he’d put me wise to something good about that Rob Roy bunch I’ve heen trying to hang something on for a year.” I don't know. whether my face be- trayed what I felt or not. Parks gave no sign of suspicion, and I dared not look up to see what the lieutenant thought. “ He tried to tell me that he thought the brains of that bunch was a Fifth Avenue inillionaire! What d’you think of that, Peters? ” Lieutenant Peters laughed, and I joined him—Heaven kaows how. “That was the gag he gave me,’ Parks continued. ey “thought he was loony, but as I had business | down here to-night I thought ’'d humor the poor little gink—and no offense to you, sir. Wonder where he skipped to? ‘T should like to know, too,” I de- clared, more anxiously than ay) in- quisitors realized. “ Leave me his address, will you? Parks asked. “ No, you needn't mind. I'll get it in the telephone- -book and call him later, to see if he got home. I knew you were his friend the minute I erabbed you, but I wanted to be sure you knew don’t. Hope there's as no ill- feelin'? COMEDY. 791 ‘I was a little hasty myself, if you will remember.” Parks smiled and rose, and I fol- lowed suit. * Just a minute.” The lieutenant’s quiet voice sat me back in my chair again. Parks looked up and the lieutenant asked : * Are you all through? ” ‘Sure. He's dry.” ‘Well, if you don’t think I’m but- ting in, ['d like to ask him a.few.” Parks hesitated a moment, then sat down smiling. Peters saw that smile. I knew it would not do me any good. His gim- letlike eyes fastened themselves upon my face and did not leave it. “What about that chauffeur story you told me, Mr, Mason?” I laughed, and I meant it. seemed at a loss. “ Lots of chaps who have no money know all sorts of well-to-do people. I am tired of having no money, and driving somebody's car is about the ouly thing I could tackle. I lost quite a little money in Wall Street to-day, so I've simply got to get something to do. I suppose you read of it—the Rand Island smash? ”’ Parks smiled, and his eves held a hint of kindness mingled with triumph. The lieutenant looked puzzled. “You can’t feeze him,” the detect- ive declared, ‘‘ because he’s straight.” “All right. Ring that bell, will you?” “What the—” “That's ‘nough. station-house right bell.” Parks, with a look of wonderment, pressed a button under the table; a policeman answered it. ‘Malone gone = ‘a “No, sir.” ‘Send him in here with that Varelli woman.” © Yer “\Vhat’s the idea?’ Parks ques- tioned, and glanced from the lieutenant tome. “ Do you know?” Parks I am running this now. Ring the comicloooks.com