Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-03
CHAPTER v.
Simmonds Shores a Bird.


wouldn't stand it."
Are all the apartments occupied?''
"No-y' see, they've been remodelin' TIL
house, tearin it all apart, turnin' # inside
out 1T used t be hotel an a d poor
one 1t wasn't maxim any money, so TIL
guy That owns 1t thought he'd turn it
t that an mas APARTMENT arSe, house Tn men
scots done, an then around come a
Waikn' delegate with red nose an a big
Dlack mustache, an ordered EN- out on
strike Them three that's done are all
Iuil' thougn. thompson had one; Tremaine
an his wife,s got another, an two young
sports what re lettin' on t study art g got
IN third-away up at TIL top with a sky
light
Godfrey smoked on placldly. He sus-
pected that Higgins had something more
to tell. and he saw that the only way to
get 1t was to wait with what patience he
could. lie was in no hurry; besides. he
wanted time to think He had not yet re-
covered from that shock of realizing how
he had gone wandering after a will-o' the
wisp of his own creation. He had fancied
himself aStutc.
The door opened; he heard Higgins utter
sharp cry of amazement. He looked up
to see Simmonds-and with him another
man, short, heavy-set, with dark mus
tache He caught the CLEAN of steel al his
wrists.
Higgins on his feet staring
so you recognize him.. do you?' asked
Simmonds. his face shining with triumph.
thought l couldn't be wrong. ! got
him quicker n | expected, Godfrey; l
didn't even have to hunt for him. OF
course, you know him?'
How do you do, Mr.. Godfrey" said the
prisoner politely. "Oh, yes, Mr. Godfrey
knows me--he knows me too we'll to think
I'd be mixed up in anything like this!''
How are you. jimmy" returned God
frey. No, | didn't suppose"
or course not. said Jimmy. with scorn.
Il wouldn't put a man out-that amt my
line" And. indeed, it wasn't, for Jimmy
the Dude had gained his reputation as an
expert manipulation of combination locks
The detective had listened with a satisfied
smile.
Higgins he said, this is the fellow
who brought Thompson home. amt it?''
Yes, sir" responded the janitor, inartc-
ulately.
This observed Jimmy, with fine indig-
nation, is what a man gets for doing a
good action l found that cove over at
Magraw's just spoilin' for trouble and /
took him in tow and brought him home.
Now you say 1 put him out, I'd better
have kept my hands off,
I'VE all know you've got a kind heart,
Jimmy" retorted Simmonds. Did he have
anything in his pockets besides that key?"
What key?'
The key to his room; of course you took
that
"Of course 1 did, said Jimmy. With deep
irony. Why, of course / did! You'll find it
on me-"
"Oh, no, we won't" retorted Simmonds,
stin smiling. I've a much better opinion
of you than that Jimmy
why, look here" cried Jimmy. SEEM
ingly deeply eXasperated what d | want
t put him out for? Did he have any
dough?'
You probably know more about that
than we do" answered Simmonds, with
meaning
You mean I went through him? Well,
didn't! But If 1 did, what d 1 want T.
come back and kill him for7''
"Of course" murmured Simmonds, gaz-
Ing medtatively at the ceiling, Its quite
impossible that he'd drop word about the
pile he had sailed down in his ROOM
"Oh, hell,' said Jimmy. "a bum like
that. But come; let's how far you'll
How did 1 work it? Mr. Higgins here,
saw me leave the building
mo, he didn't, Jimmy, corrected Sim
monds gently. "He only saw you start for
the street door But as soon as the ele-
vator started, you took to the stairs
Jimmy threw up his hands with fine
gesture of despair.
"Oh, you've got it all fixed" he cried.
You'll railroad me TO the chair, if you can.
I suppose you've got somebody that
swear they saw me do it?"
Yes agreed Simmonds quietly, 1--WE
have"
a little pale when he he was in earnest
He began TO realize that perhaps he was
really in a tight place.
Come, Mr. Simmonds," he said, at last,
you don't mean THAR
You ought to know, I'll have you iden-
lifted tomorrow.
Identified"
"Yes-by the woman who saw you Kill
Thompson"
"A woman is TT" asked Jimmy helpless
ly. "Mebbe she's already been so oblign'
as to give you my name?"
mo; but she gave US description of you
"A 7 a
as I heard Higgins story"
so Mr.. Higgins had tale to tell. too,
did he?" asked the craftsman, with a
somewhat venomous glance at the janitor.
WAS he also on the scene? Or mebbe he
was lookin' through the transom?'
mo cause to get funny, Jimmy. You
won't feel that way after 1 get through
with you
"Oh, won't II We all know you're a
bright man. Mr.. Simmonds!'
Bright or not" said Simmonds COM
placently, I've got YOU Your records
That's it-give dog bad name. See
here. Mr.. Godfrey. you don't believe I'd
be such a d fool as to put a man out
with woman watchin' me do it?'
II don't know what to think" answered
Godfrey slowly. 1T doesn't seem quite
like you, Jimmy"
Like me! l should say not! And II 1
was crazy enough to do a thing like that,
would 1 go back to Pete Magraw's and
hang around there. waitin for the police
to come after me? II you think I'd do
thing like that, you'd better send me to
Bellevue and be done with it,"
II was expecting that argument, Jimmy,
said Simmonds. still smiling. You're a
deep one!"
Jimmy threw up his hands again.
"Of course!" he cried You win; lose
If I'd run away it'd be a confession of
guilt; If / stay, it's because I'm a deep
un! oh. it's lots of justice I'll get! Well
go ahead. Go ahead and prove 1t! I'll
prove an alibi."
"Oh. l know you've got that all fixed.
Jimmy" retorted SimmoEds Il expected
that knew you'd think of that right
away. Who'll swear to it? Magraw?"
Jimmy's face was growing flushed; his
temper was getting the better of him.
which, perhaps, was just what Simmonds
wanted.
''Magraw got share of that last deal,
didn't he?" he continued imperturbably.
Naturally, he's grateful. But you ought
to have waited little, Jmmy-you really
ought. When was It you got back?"
Yesterday" answered Jimmy sullenIy.
He evidently realized the danger of losing
his temper and managed to control himself
AFTER an absence of two years! Come,
Jimmy" pursued Simmonds persuasively
what did you do it for? Was 1t plant ?"
Jimmy relieved his feelings by some Wig
orOuS swearing.