Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

F LISTENING EYES. course we didn’t dream ‘that Lestrade-was ‘going to get the drop on you. From our ‘position under the parlor window we could only ear what was going on. We couldn't b see a thing, not wanting to show our faces, ° and, from what we heard, we imagined that you had the situation well in hand. It was only when we heard the shots that we be- came aware that something had gone wrong, and butted into the party.” Hemment regarded the speaker with as- tonishment. ‘“‘ So you were under the win- dow, taking in everything!” he exclaimed. “You shadowed me from New York, In spite of your promise, and—” “Not at all,” Oglivie cut in, frowning. “Nobody has ever caught me going back on my word, Mr. Hemment. We didn’t shadow you. It wasn’t necessary. We were on the scene ahead of you—at Jeast, two of my men were.” ‘‘ Ahead of me?” “Let me explain. You recall that night when you left word for me at headquarters to call you up at the Afercury office as soon as I came in? Well, when | did call up— the first time—I had rather an interesting experience. Central got me hitched up to a busy wire, and when [ heard the conversa- tion that was going on, for once I wasn’t peeved at the poor service. [or you were one of the parties on that line, old man, and the lady at the other end was Miss Cecilie Harvey. ‘As soon as I became aware of that fact I took the liberty of listening in. Such itberties are justified in our business. And I got enough to cause me to congratulate myself on my gvuod luck.” ‘“ | see,” said Hemment. “ And you fol- lowed the same course that IT did—-tracedd the girl through that long-distance call?” The other nodded. ‘“ 1t was the obvious thing to do, wasn’t 11? We located her hicding-place, and 1 chased a couple of my men out there the following morning, with Instructions to keep a shadow on her.” He grinned. “ That was why I had Dolan pick you up that same morning, and drag you down to heacdquarters-—at Icast, it was one of my reasons. I had an idea that you mieht go out there, and 1 wanted to make sure that. my men got on the job first. By 4038 making you lose your train, that was cinched.” ‘“ And when did you get out there, com- missioner ?”’ ‘ About the same time that you did. At least, I arrived in Harrisburg on the same train. O course I wasn’t shadowing you, though. My men had telephoned in, re- porting that the girl was there all right, and asking for further instructions. 1 de- cided that it might be worth my while to run out there myself and interview her. The bovs were on the job, watching the farmhouse, when you arrived, but I didn’t get on the scene, myself, until Lestrade and Underwood paid their visit. ‘“ Frankly, we didn’t bave the slightest idea who those fellows were at first,” Oglivie admitted. ‘‘ But we saw that the car had a New York license tag. That looked as though there might be something doing. So ‘we crouched under the parlor window, and heard your little spiel—right up to the mo- _ment that Lestrade winged you.” ‘And then?’ the newspaperman asked quickly. ‘“ And then we horned right in, of course, and interfered with their plans for making a quick getaway,’ the detective told him with a grin. ‘“ Don’t worry, old chap. That bunch is al] accounted for. Lestrade is in the Tombs now, awaiting trial for murder in the first degree, to say nothing of the forgery charges and his attack on you. He'll go to the chair, sure. And we've got most of the members of the forgers’ gang rounded up, too—including your old friend, Mrs. Kitty Walters. busy week in New York since you’ve been loafing here.” There followed a long pause. The strick- en reporter’s eyes had closed, and his visitor thought at first that he had fallen asleep. The latter was about to withdraw softly when Hemment stopped him. ‘Don’t go yet, commissioner,” he urged hastily. ‘* There are a few more details I’ve got to hear. What about Underwood? What sort of a case have you got against him?” Oslivie hesitated for a moment, and his expression became grim. “A pretty good cases\/iihecanayeredco We’ve had rather a-