The Argosy, October 1906 — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

- CAUGHT. - ~ Then he ‘rang for the messenger- — boy and told him to take the wallet and — the two hundred and twenty-five dollars" to Tom Sutton at the post-office and say that he came from the girl.” “Not so fast,” interposed the inspect- or. ‘‘So far, your theory has sounded pretty geod, — Mr. you re getting . a little wild - in your guessing. Assuming that this foreigner did kill Dupree, why hire that boy to take that wallet to Sutton? ton or the girl or the money-order in- cident? ” “Ves.” broke-in Postmaster Gray, who had ‘been listening thus far in breath-- less silence, “ that’s the very question: 7 put to him. - You remember, Jeremiah, that I asked you the same thing yester- day.” “Yes,” admitted. the young ea smiling, ‘ “and-I told you that .1 hoped “to - prove that it was possible for a stran- ger to pull off that wallet trick without. having. been in- the room at all during: the interview between Sutton. and Du- -pree.” “Well, how are you going to prove it?” snapped the inspector impatiently. First, let- “By that messenger-boy. us see if that boy doesn’t identify this foreigner. able to explain everything.” -- The inspector touched. the bell on his desk. “ Bring up that foreign prisoner, first, -and then bring in that messenger-boy,” he said - -quietly to the policeman who appeared. in answer to the summons. Five minutes afterward two brawny policemen. entered, dragging between - He was a tall man. His feie was gray and cropped close to-his head, which was bald on top. There was a livid scar upon his. forehead. His face was distinctly. foreign—either French or Italian—and ‘his. features were of vil- lainous: mold.- a 3 His jaws now worked ee and his eyes gleamed with fear and rage as he tugged frantically at the handcuffs. Postmaster Gray could not repress a shudder as he saw him. He certainly looked like a man capable of any sort. of crime. the inspector calmly. ‘Packard; but now How did he happen tu know anything about Sut-. -If he does, I think Vil be “ Better take it easy, my friend,” said “Tes no use get- ting excited. = BENS him over eS men.’ The prisoner let joose a torrent of language. He spoke in a foreign tongue, but it was evident that he was uttering imprecations, deep and direful. ‘The door of Inspector O’Connor’s office epened again and Detective-Ser- geant Hawkins Kelly, the messenger-boy. “Come here, my lad,” said the in- spector in a kindly tone. “ Have you ever seen this man before? ‘Take a good look at him.” The boy gazed at the prisoner search- ingly. He appeared to be in doubt. ‘““T think J’ve seen him before; but I’m not sure,” he answered slowly. “ It looks like somebody I know; but I-can’t think who it is.” - The inspector rose from his chair suddenly, seized a wig of long black hair from his desk, and clapped it upon the prisoner’s head, holding it there de- spite the man’s frantic struggles to dis- lodge it. The result was striking. The boy’s eyes opened wide with surprise. He pointed a finger at the. cursing prisoner and cried excitedly: “Why, now I know him. It’s the - man who sent me on that message to the post-office. That’s the fellow. I _ didn’t quite recognize him without the long hair.” Postmaster Gray uttered a shout of joy and triumph. “At last, at last!”’ he cried. ‘“ Now Tom Sutton will go free.” “May I ask the boy a question, in- Spector? said Packard eagerly. Z My boy,” went on .the lawyer, a was it that you first saw this « Y ve_ told you,” was the reply. “In the Brixton Building, on the tenth floor. I went there to answer his call.” — “That settles it,” said the inspector. zee congratulate you, Mr, Packard. I guess you're right this time.” “One minute, inspector. I don’t think the boy has told us all-yet,” said Packard. | He Gurnee to the youngster again. z Eomicbooks.co 55d" appeared with Mike