Warren sheaf., 1903-05-21
would have been a refuge, but might
prove to be no more.
CHAPTER XVI. +

/ -.
On the day following the inciden
OF the black coupe, Superintendent
barnes, the chief of police, was seat
ca IN MS office, studying mass o:
written reports that lay before hin
on the desk. Evidently what he real
was not to his liking, for his gen
orally smooth forehead wore a deer
1rown and now and then he uttered
an exclamatiop that showed his an
| ger and disgust.
Inspector Barnes, as he was better
known in the city, looked more like
prosperous banker than man who
mad spent the principal part of his
lie in Investigating the, undercur.
rents of society. He did not wear
that worn and worried look we are
accustomed to associate with a man
who has so much work laid out for
MIN. He was none the less a capable
officer, and if his smile was .schild-
like and bland,''. he was feared and
respected by the lawless world, and
Justly 50. -. 8 q. &c : r
Barnes was not in good humor OH
the morning in question, and after
he had finished his reading, leaned
back in the big chair and puffed for
moment on his black cigar, sending
forth such clouds that he resembled
g. 9 1at Idol ldoi surrounded by incense.
His glance fixed on the ceiling, it
only changed to look now and then
with a scowl. at the pile Of papers be:
fore him. Suddenly he leaned FOR,
ward and rang the bell sharply at
MS elbow; y t5r.ses:r' r.s.sr Z; u
:. The foldijig dto}asfs in the center Of
the room 8pened and his personal
atteildaht ap ppeared.
Send Mac here at once!'' he said,
and lolled back in his chair again,
smoking more vigorously than ever
and engaged in deep thought. The
attendant bowed himself out and a
moment later the chief of detectives
entered, and, closing the door be-
hind him, advanced to the desk
where his superior was seated.
He was a small man, looking not
unlike an over-worked clerk, quick
and nervous in his movements, with
long pale face and sharp eyes that
almost glared from beneath bushy
eyebrows.
want me, Superb" he asked, in
low voice. "Mac," was man not
given to eloquence or long speeches.
II am thinking that this depart
ment-yours, mine, everybody's, is in
bad state,'' said the chief.
''Ah," but the little mans face was
unmoved. :--.
''Look at that stack of reports
there" exclaimed the other, pointing
to his desk. "Mostly made up of the
hopeless attempts to find the fellow
who is at the head of most of the
robberies that have been committed
in the city during the past year.
And not one Of our people has been
able to get even clew to his where
abouts. Now, that fellow must be
caught or the department will stand
forever disgraced. Never since I
have been connected with the force
many failures. Why, if things go on
this way you and will have to get
out, that's ALL"
I'm sure I wish it was Different -
sighed Mac, shifting nervously from
one foot to the other. "After all, it
may not be the work of one man.
You know thief gets a reputation,
and then every other crime of note
is set down to his credit, or discredit.
Just like in our own business. We
often get credit in the papers for
unearthing criminal, when it may
be, like as not, entirely the work OF
one of our men,"
Inspector Barnes looked at his
companion to see if there was any
personal insinuation intended, but
the little man was busy -eying the
glass case containing criminal curl.
osities. T.
swell, if these robberies are not
the work of the same man, why
don't you catch the ones who are
guilty." he said, in a voice of exas.
peration. II tell you still believe
there is one behind it all, for these
affairs bear the same stamp. It is
of course, possible that some one
else has copied his methods. Who
ever he is, he is clever man, anc
we have not heard of the like since
the days of George Leonidas Leslie
If I were not sure that Leslie was
very dusty, should believe that he
| had hand in these matters. Now
Mac, why don't you catch him?"
"Why, indeed?" with smile
"Why don't I capture a rainbow te
make ribbons out Of it for my wife
I tell you, Super, we are doing all we
can. We have had some men who
work for him in hand, but, though
industriously pumped, they know lit
tie more about him than we do. tt
call the man a Shadow is wrong
for he never, stays as long as :
shadow in one place. But I have al
| idea."
''You are fortunate early il