Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
CHAPTER XXI.

Bay.
ALI the bookmaker exclaimed Wheil
Crane entered, you want that badge NUM-
her. Hagen, get the betting sheet for the
second last day at Gravesend, and look up
the bet of $1,000 we roped in over Mr.
Cranes horse. l want the badge number
we want to locate the man that parted
wish there had been more like him.
DO you mean Billy Cass?" queried the
clerk.
Who the devils Billy Cass?'
why, the stiff that played the Dutchman
for a thou"
You knew him?" This query from Far
rel.
In Mullens book last year when peheheo
for him..
The clerk had brought the betting sheet
by this time, and ran his finger down
long row of figures.
on the Dutchman. His badge number was
11.IS5 Yes that's the bet; l remember
Billy Cass takin it. You see he contln-
ued, explanatory of his vivid memory, ne
generally a picker-p!ays a long shot-an
his limits $50; so, when he comes next
fayorite that day with cool thou, 1t give
me stoppage of the heart. Did II dlQn
get cold feet. Bet yer life 1t WASH Bll.3 )
money-not a PUNK of it; he had worked
an angel. an was playin the farmer stun
for him"
Are you sure, Mr.. Hagen-did You know
the MANI" 49,.
eyes light mustache, hand like woman.
That's the man" affirmed Farrell;
that's the man, saw him yesterday:
Crane stared. For once in his life the
confusion of an unexpected event momeh-
tarIy unsettled him.
Il thought you identiied-which man in
the bank did you mean?'
Il saw three; a short, dark. half!eSs k!d
u ,rstl' ipEa 4
"a tall. dark, heavy-ShOuldsred chap, that,
Judged by his mug would have made fair
record as a tghtir' man
WAS not that the man you identified as
having made the bCt?' interrupted Crane,
taking a step forward in his intense eager
ness.
Not on your life: it was the slippery
looking cove with fshy eyes
Cas-" muttered Crane to himself; but
that's pOssible-Cass never left the bank
that day; there's some devlish queer mis-
take here"
But the name Cass was ringing in his
ears.
Farrell had identified David Cass in the
bank as the man who had bet with him,
and the clerk asserted that one Billy Cass
had made the same bet. Hagen descrip-
ton of Billy Cass fitted David Cass in a
general way. Again, the badge number
HISS was not Mortimer's number as regis
tered in Faust's book.
Crane stood pondering over the complica-
ton while Farrell waited. He saw that,
until further investigation disproved 1t,
there could be but one solution of this in
tricate riddle. Billy Cass. the taker of the
bet was race track frequenter; David
Cass was not and the latter had been in
the bank all that day-Crane knew that.
They must be separate personalities, but
they resGmbled each other; they were of
the same name-they must be brothers.
Billy CasS had had possession of the stolen
note. He must have got it from some one
having access to It at the banh-Mortimer,
Alan Porter or Cass-the cashier was
quite out of the question.
The next move was to trace back through
Bill Cass the man who had delivered to
him the stolen money. There was still a
chance that Mortimer, unfamiliar with bet
ting and possibly knowing of Billy CaSS
through his brother in the bank-if they
were brothers-had used this practical rae
ing man commission agent. That SEEM
ed the most plausible deduction. 1t was
practically impossible that David Cass could
have got possession of the bill. for it was
locked in a compartment of which Mortimer
had the key. Mortimer had admitted that
the keys were not out of his possession.
Thus far in his hurried mental retrospect
Crane spoke to Farrell Il think this is all
We can do at present. ! may find it neces-
sary to ask you to identify this Cass, but
hope not to trouble you any further in the
matter"
D the trouble" energetcany re-
sponded Farrell with huge disclaiming of
obligation; IN spend time and money to
stab a crook any day. I've no use for
them. a few of that kidney gives the raciu'
Just squeak, an well hop on to the chap If
he's a wrong one with both feet
Crane said nothing about the other num-
Der he had culled from Fausts book; he
said nothing about his suspicious OF a broth
erhood he wanted TO go back TO his quar-
tiers and think this new problem out,
What If in seeking for conclusive evidence
against Mortimer he should prove him inno-
cent? He trpdlipp
ground. pushing out of his path with a
frebrand fuse closely attached to a mine
that might explode and shatter the care
fully constructed fabric.
Sitting in his own chamber he once more
went over, bit by Bit the whole extraordi-
nary ENHANCEMENT. Mistaken as it was
Farrelrs identification at Brookfield must
have strongly affected the mind of AlHs
Porter. At the time Crane had played an
honest part in recounting it to the girl. He
had firmly believed. owing to his ambiguous
report that Farrell had meant Mortimer; in
TACT, CasS had not entered his mind a. an
Even yet Mortimer might be the guilty man
probably was. Why should he, Crane pur-
sue this investigation that might turn
boomerang-iike, and act disastrously? Nor
timer was either thief or a hero, there
could be no question about that. As a
hero. in this case, he was pretty much of i
fool in Cranes eyes, but Allis Porter would
not look upon it in that light. She would
defy him. Crane would commit diplomats
suicide in developing Mortimer's innocence
Again he asked himself why he should
proceed. Mortimer was guilty in the strong
cOnvicting light of the apparent evidence.
Better let it rest that happy way-happy for
Crane.
But still would he rest satisfied himself?
He was not accustomed to doing things by
halves. If Cass had stolen the money #
would never do to retain him In position
OF trust
Then the devil Of subtle diplomacy, ia
mifar a all times to Crane wi;spe ed In
his ear that he need not blazon to the
world the result of his further investiga-
ton: he might satisfy himself and IL Nor
timer were found still deeper in the tolls 1t
might be spoken Of but If he were D: oven
innocent, well, was Crane his broth RS
keeper?
He could adopt one OF the two plans to
get at the truth. He could trace out Billy
Cass. and extort from him the name of his
principal; but II startled. the latter mig
refuse to divulge anything. Police pressure
meant publicity. There was a bstter plan
Crane always found better plan in every
thing. IL David Cass had stolen the money,
he must have sent it to his brother. II that
fact were established it would show a con-
nection between the two.
That afternoon Crane took a train to
Brookield
visit to the village post Office disc osed
hidden jewel. AS far as Crane was con-
cerned. the fate of the two men was con-
tanned in an innocent king entry In the
postmaster's records. 1t was easy for him
TO obtain all the information Re requi cd
a osfn NIT L.