Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-01
CHAPTER I.
A Call in the Night.

NnAtn upluE ne dShcu' DIS lt
ped the rain from his coat.
Smmouds. the grizzled veteran of the
central office. now temporarily in charge
Of the devious business of the Tender
loiu. shook his head despondently.
Not a thing Only" he added. his eyes
cleaning suddenly with appreciation, you
were right about that Delanne abduction
case. 1t was all a faked-up story on the
mothers part. She confessed this even
ing
II thought she would if you kept at her.
said Godfrey. sitting down with Il quick nod
of satisfaction. She hasn't nerve enough
TO carry through a thing like that-she
too piuk-andwhite How does 1t happen
you're alone?'
"Johnston's gone down to Philadelphia to
bring back Riggs. the forger. FIeminss
got the grip. Bad night. amt it,
Horrible" agreed Godfrey Listen 10
that. now
street rafting the windows shrieking
around the corners, tearing down signs,
and doing such other damage as lay in It's
power.
There was certain similarity in the
faces of the two men, especially in the eX-
preston of the eyes and mouth. Age, now
ever. had given to Simmonds features a
trace of stolidity which was wanting IN
those of his companion. He had been con-
nected with the central office for many
years-was dean of the force. in fact-and
though he had developed no special genius
in his dealings with crime, he possessed
a matter-of-fact industry and personal
courage which had frequently achieved
success. In the end. his chief had come to
trust him greatly probably because the
brilliant theorists of the force made so
many unfortunate mistakes.
Godfrey was a brilliant theorist and
something more. He was not so patient as
Simmonds, but then he was much younger.
He had more imagination, and perhaps his
greatest weakness was that he preferred
picturesque solutions to commonplace ones.
During his three years connection with
the force he had won four or five notable
victories-so notable. indeed. that they at
tracted the attention of the Record man
agement. The end of it that Godfrey
resigned his badge and entered the Record
office criminal expert. climbing grad
ually to the position of star reporter. Since
then. the Record had not waited on the
police; indeed, it had been rather the other
II was with slmmonds that Godfrey had
long since concluded an alliance offensive
and defensive
The one supplemented the other-the eagle
gave eyes TO the mole; the mole gave the
eagle the power of working patiently in the
dark. Simmonds kept Godfrey in touch
with police affairs; Godfrey enabled Sim
monds 20 make startling arrest now and
then Godfrey got the story, Smmonds got
the glory. and both We're satisfied. 1t may
be added that, without in the least suspect
ing it. the mole was considerably under the
influence OF the eagle BRAINS naturally
lead industry; besides. the blind must have
guidance
They listened until the gust of wind died
away down the street, then Godfrey arose
and began To button up his coat
Nevertheless, he said I've got to be
moving on. | can't stay loafiDg here. l
ouldnt have stopped at all but for the
chance OF seeing you
"Oh. don't co. protested Simmonds. Il
was mighty glad to see you come in. l was
feeling little lonesome. Wait till this
squalls over. anyway-and have a smoke
Godfrey took the proffered cigar and re-
lapsed into his chair.
I'm only human" he said. as he struck
ii match, and, besides. there's a fascina-
ton about you. Simmonds-there' always
chance of getting a good story out of you.
You know more about the criminal history
of New York than any other man living, l
think
simmonds chuckled complacently.
Il have been in on most of the big cases,
he agreed.
Come. now" continued the other, per-
suasively, III l consent to stay you've got
TO produce u story. Take those Dig cases
which do you think was the best of the
LOTT
The best?"
The most intricate. I mean-the most
puZzling-the hardest to solve"
Well and Simmouds rolled his cigar re-
hectively, the hardest 10 solve, of course,
were those that were never solved at all.
There was the shooting OF old benjamin
Nathan, IN The summer OF ~, at his mousse
on West I'D street, and there was the stab
bng OF Harvey BuTdeIL. | never had the
least doubt thaJ BurdeIl was killed by Mrs.
Cunningham, the woman he'd secretly mar
ried. The stabping was done by Ielt-
handed person. and she was left-hdndedi
but We weren't able 10 convict her.
Yes nodded Godfrey; and the Nathan
,aseg'
There WASH anybody in the house, so
far a. known, but the TWO sons, SAID SIM
I!.ouds slowly, and both OF them managed
TO prove AN albi But I've always
Thought Hello! What's this?
The door new back with crash and Il
man rushed ina heavy-set man, with red
cneeks, VINO stopped, gasping, ciutchng at
Godfrey had a flask to his lips in an in
staut.
come. brace up he commanded sternly,
slap1us I.e stranger ON the back Take
- swallow OI tEIs-Jhats ii.
lit seems to me 1 know him. remarked
S.mmuuds. looking al the flushed counte-
nance wltH e'ntenplatye eye.
20 course yuu DO gasPcd the stranger
I'm H-gslu=-th Marathon, and he jerked
las head toward the door.
ION. yes said Simmunds. y on re the
Jauito- OF the Marathon apartment house,
JAS, ACROSS rlc street.
"W,u what's happened at the Mar
tEou: demanded Godfrey. NO gAos,s
..rb=e.li os one" answered Higgins, his
eyes beginning 70 pop again. Oh my
Com repeated Godfrey sharply. "out
with DO. What Is it,
"Irs murder tLat's what it is cried
Higgins hoarsely. Il seed him, a-Iayin' on
MS tack
lie stopped and covered his eyes with his
h.uus Siumoads had iuieuy opened a
drawer ANA slipped "a revolver into his
poekt- Then He took Gown the receiver
lron his desk phone.
THAT You, serge1ut?' lee called. This
%.EErEtuHs the