The Argosy, October 1906 — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

ging her to leave town at once, so as not to be called upon to testify against him at the trial. Tom denies that he sent anybody with such a message and: swears he’s never seen this~ one-armed for- - eigner.”’ : : ‘Well, that’s a strange story,” said Postmaster Gray, shaking his head du- biously.. ‘ What could have been the fellow’s object in getting the girl out of town? I think she’s been lying to you, Jeremiah.” “Maybe,” said Packard. ‘ Person- ally I don’t think she has. I think she’s telling the truth and nothing but the truth. Perhaps you're right, however. That’s why I am so anxious to find that messenger-boy. He'll be able to tell me whether or not she did hire him to take that package to Sutton.” It was nightfall when they reached 2000 Washington Street, Brooklyn, which turned out to be a plumber’ s shop sure enough. Packard breathed a as of relief as he glanced at the sign-board. It was a new sign-board, evidently only up for a day or so, and it read: “ James Kelly —Plumber.” They entered the diminutive store and a dirty-faced small boy ‘greeted them. ‘‘ Whatcher want?” he asked. “ Pipes busted? Pop ain’t in now.” “We're looking for a boy named Mike Kelly who used to be messenger 642,” said Packard. ‘“That’s me, want?” “T want to have a talk with you, my boy.” “What about? Yer ain't from the school, are yer?” asked the boy sus- piciously, with alarming thoughts of truant officers in his mind. , “No, we're not from the school, Mike. We want to know if you'd like a dollar to spend.” “Tt’s a cinch I would,” said the bov eagerly. “Aw, go on; quit your kid- ding.” ; “T’m not kidding, Mike. all right. Whatcher Do you re- member taking a package to a post-office over in New York last Monday?” ‘A package to the money-order clerk, do yer mean?” asked the boy readily. Ves cried. Packard — eagerly, “ Vou’re an intelligent boy, Mike, a very THE ARGOSY. intelligent boy. Tell us who gave you that package to send and this dollar is yours.” _« “On the evel?” “Yes, on the level.” ‘Gee, that’s a cinch,” said the urchin. “Tt was a gent as gives me that pack- age. 73? SA genti” ‘eried Hockard and Post- master Gray in one breath. - e Yes, sir, and he was a generous gent, too. He hands me a dollar and he says, ‘Here, boy, take this package to the money-order clerk at the post-office and tell him that a lady named Miss Morgan gave it to you to bring to him. He was very particular that I ‘should say as how a lady sent me with the package.” “There!” cried Packard, turning ex- citedly to Gray. “© What do you think — now, postmaster?” *©T think that the girl - told the. truth, of course,” said the old man. “ But I don’t understand it, erent How could anybody else have hired that mes- senger-boy? How could anybody else have known about. Tom’s visit to Du- pree’s office to get that money? How could anybody else have known that the girl had promised to get Tom the money, when Dupree threw him down?” ‘“"There’s just one man who knew all these things,’ said Packard — “and that’s Saunders, the bookkeeper. By his own statement he heard the girl whisper to Sutton that she'd send the. money to him if she could raise it. He was the only person in the office during that interview besides Sutton, the girl, and Dupree. — — “By the way, my boy, tell. us where was this man when he gave you the package? Did he come into eS office to hire you?” _ “No, sir. He had a qhessenver call in his own office, and when he rang it the manager sent me around there.” “Ah! And do you remember where his office was? Ze = Sure, = =f: the Bastar Building, on the tenth floor.’ és : “ In the Breen Bynding on the tenth floor!” gasped. Packard. “Tn Du-- pree’s own office! Then it. was Saun- ders without a doubt. is a splendid day’s work. We'll rush. — back to Inspector O'Connor’ s office and — slowly, = Postmaster, this — cemicbod $.cO