The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

198 Connell’s tone was skeptical as a result of his long years of detective expe- rience. “I guarantee it positively; and that, moreover, within two weeks from the time each case is taken up.” McConnell was fain to question the grounds for such absolute self-confi- dence, but, realizing that he would simply be told this was another “ little secret,” held his peace. In the face of the disclosures made to him concerning the Poe and Vor- hees matters, he was hardly in a posi- tion to scoff at any of Ramsdell’s statements, no matter how staggering they might appear. “Still,” he submitted cautiously, “you must yourself agree, young man, that it’s a rather dangerous proceeding to make an outsider free of all the inside information held by the police department. Before we close any bargain I guess I’ll have to know a little more about you.” “ Sure,” assented Ramsdell cheer- fully; “ although I’m afraid there isn’t much to tell. I am twenty-six years old, and was born at Tenallytown, Maryland. After leaving school I taught for a year in the Deaf-Mute In- stitute at Washington, and then, com- ing on to New York, took a degree in the natural sciences at Columbia, and since completing that have been doing post-graduate work along the same line with the idea of becoming an in- structor. In the mean time I support myself by tutoring backward stu- dents.” “So, that’s your biography, eh?” McConnell smiled in spite of himself. “Hardly what one would call prepa- ration for being a detective, is it? But excuse me a minute; there is an order I have forgotten to send out,” punch- ing a button on his desk for the mes- senger, as he hurriedly scribbled a line or two on a sheet.of paper and slipped it into an envelope. Then, with this despatched, the com- missioner turned again to the business of questioning Ramsdell and drawing THE ARGOSY. the latter out in regard to every point of his career. A half or three-quarters of an hour later an answer was delivered to the “order ” McConnell had sent out: for that, as may have been surmised, was merely a request to have Ramsdell looked up. The commissioner glanced through it; then, with a slight frown, crumpled the slip up im his hands and tossed it into the waste-basket. It corroborated in every particular the statements the young man had made in regard to himself. | “Found what I told you just about straight, didn’t you?” commented Ramsdell dryly. McConnell flushed a little. Really, it was almost uncanny the way this fellow called the turn on him. “Whatever I’ve found,” he respond- ed a bit tartly, “it’s nothing that proves you in any way fitted to be a detective.” “Would you judge a horse by per- formance or pedigree?” returned the other quietly. “Come, come, com- missioner, I think I’ve shown you enough to warrant you in giving me a chance. Let me have a try at this Poe Bible business, anyhow, and see if I don’t make good.” The commissioner hesitated, then not altogether graciously yielded as- sent. “Two of the most experienced men from the bureau, Brady and Schmitz, are up there now, looking over the ground,” he said. “Tl phone up and tell them to let you into the library and give you every facility in getting at the facts.”’ And, true to his word, he did so as soon as his new assistant was started on his way. But he also sent a supplementary message of which he had not spoken to Ramsdell. “Keep your eye on that duck,” he warned .the detectives, “and try to find out if possible what he is up to. Don’t let his looks deceive you. He Comiclsooks.conn