Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

FINDINGS “higher up” in police affairs. Unless Harry Vale was wanted for something special he was not likely to be looked up by any of the big fellows around headquarters. They did not pay much attention down there to rookie cops—not even to those who displayed ambition in the field of crime _ detection. A “ fresh ” cop might be called down by his skipper. But ordinarily the men higher up would give him small notice. Vale did not propose if he could help it to give even Buffalo Griggs a chance to “ get something on him.” If he came clean on every point of duty he did not think Andrew Maywell would be able to make him much trouble. But he had something to learn, had Harry Vale. Within a very few hours of his ad- venture at the fire on Vandam Street, the unexpected happened. When he came off tour at six o’clock that night—the then working system of two platoons did not give a policeman much freedom—the skipper had left orders at the desk for Vale to come into his room. Old Buffalo never showed elation, or sat- isfaction, or approval. He just roared at every culprit, or suspected culprit, who came before him. And if a fellow was for- tunate enough to clear himself of any ac- cusation, the skipper merely grunted. He now favored Vale with a lowering glance as the latter entered and came smart- ly to attention before the desk. The skip-.- per picked up a docketed paper, unfolded it, and glanced through its contents. Harry recognized the form as a headquarters com- plaint. “Officer Vale!” rasped old Buffalo. “Last evening at the time of the fire on Vandam Street the lieutenant reported you » off post at the fire-lines. Excuse given, that you followed a woman who dodged under the rope. It that a fact?” “Yes, sir, It is,” Vale replied instantly on guard. “‘ How long did it take you to get her?” ‘““A few minutes. I do not know just how long.”’ “You brought her back and put her out of the fire area?” “‘T did, sir.” ‘“'Who was she and what was she after?” IS KEEPINGS. 79 snapped the skipper, still glowering at the patrolman, ‘“‘ She wished to go into one of the build- ings that was threatened by the fire. I brought her back.” “Who was she?” repeated the skipper in a tone that brooked no further dodging of that question. 4 | ‘“T did not ask her name,” Harry con- fessed. “Huh!” grunted Buffalo. ‘ You didn’t ask her name, eh? And you made no re- port on it. Now, see here, my fine fel- low! I’ve a report here of a break at No. 284 Vandam Street. That is two doors this side of the second house that caught fire. The lock of the roof-hatch at that number was busted in last night. Shot to pieces. A bullet found imbedded in the wood is the same caliber as that of the po- lice guns, ‘You were seen coming out of No. 284 Vandam Street with a woman just before the fire was out. You must have got into the house through the roof door. The in- ference is you shot to pieces that lock to get into the house.” Skipper Griggs leaned forward suddenly, smote the desk with his hairy fist, and roared: ‘What does this mean? How did you get on the roof of that house? Who is the woman? You tell me all about it or you go before the commissioner!” CHAPTER XI, PUZZLING DISCOVERIES. HARRY VALE possessed one trait at least that Captain Micah Griggs did not take into consideration when he started to “ jack up” that individual. The rookie cop was not physically afraid of any man, and morally he was as courageous as most. Let old Buffalo roar his head off and Vale would not quiver an eyelash. If he ‘ paled around the gills ” it was not from fear. He resented being called ‘‘a young dog,” and he knew the skipper had no right to ad- dress him in any such way. ~ Had it not been for a certain practical characteristic which he possessed, too, Vale cComiclbooks.com