Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1906-12-07
GLIB


through the building.
Anything doing?" he asked as he
tapped the rain from his coat.
Simmonds, the grizzled veteran OF
the central office, now temporarily il
charge of the devious business of the
"Tcnderloin," shook his head despond
entity.
mot thing. Only" he added, his
eyes cleaning suddenly with apprecia
ton, you were right about that De
lame abduction case. 1t was all a
faxed up story on the mothers part.
She confessed this evening""
81 thought she would if you kept at
her." said Godfrey, sitting down with
a quick nod of satisfaction. 'She
hasn't nerve enough to carry through a
thing like that; she's too pink and
white. How does it happen you're
alone?"
"Johnston's gone down to Philadel-
phia to bring back Riggs, the forger
Fleming's got the grip. Bad night"
There was certain similarity in the
faces of the two men, especially in the
Age, however, had given to SimmOnds'
features trace of stoidity which was
wanting in those of his companion. He
had been connected with the central Of
fee for many years, was dean of the
force, in fact, and though he had de-
veloped no special genius in his deal
ings with crime he possessed 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 bril-
liant theorists of the force made so
many unfortunate mistakes.
Godfrey was brilliant thcorist and
something more. He was not so pa
tient as Simmonds, but then he was
much younger. He had more imagna-
ton, and perhaps his greatest weak
ness was that he preferred picturesque
solutions to commonplace ones. Dur
ing his three years connection with the
force he had won four or five notable
victories, so notable, indeed. that they
attracted the attention of the Record
management The end of it was that
Godfrey resigned his badge and ell
tered the Record office as criminal ex-
pert, climbing gradually to the position
of star reporter. Since then the Record
had not waited on the police; indeed, it
had been rather the other way around.
1t was with SimmOnds that Godfrey
had long, since concluded an alliance
offensive and defensive. The one sup
plemented the Nather-the eagle gave
eyes to the mole; the mole gave the
eagle the power of Working patiently
IN the dark. SimmonSls kept Godfrey
IN touch with police affairs; Godfrey
enabled simmonds uj make startling
arrest now and them, Godfrey got the
story, Simmonds gotN the glory, and
both were satisfied. Ih may be added
hat without in the leasy suspecting it
he mole was considerably under the
influence of the eagle. Bra natural
y lead industry. Besides, the blind
must have guidance.
They listened until the guSt of wind
lied away down the street, hen God
'rey arose and began to button up his
,oat.
Nevertheless" he said "I've got to
De moving on. can't stay loafing
lere. wouldn't have stopped at all
)ut for the chance of seeing YOU"
"Oh, don't co. protested Simmonds.
4 was mighty glad to see you CONT in.
was feeling little lonesome. Wait |
ill this squalls over anyway and b, We
smoke"
Godfrey took the proffered cigar aid
elapsed into his chair. \
I'm only human" he said as Ii
struck match. land besides thereit
| fascination about you, Simmonds. |
There's always chance of getting /
rood story out of you. You know
more about the criminal history of
lew York than any other man living,
think. Hello, what's this?'
The door flew back with a crash, and
man rushed in-a heavy set man
With red cheeks-who stopped, gasp
ne, clutching at his throat.
Godfrey had flask to his lips in an
Instant.
Come, brace upw he commanded
ternly, slapping the stranger on the
'ack. Take a swallow of this. That's
t."
ut seems to me / know him." re-
marked Simmonds, looking at the flush.
d couutenance with contemplative
ye.
40 course you do" gasped the stran-
er. 'I'm Higgins-th' Marathon And
e jerked his head toward the door,
'Soh, yes" said Simmonds. You're
he janitor of the Marathon apartment
louse, Just across the street"
"Well, what's happened at the Mara.
hon?" demanded Godfrey. "Out with
to
"It's murdecw cried Higgins hoarse-
y. Il seed him a-layln' on his back