The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-09-12
CHAPTER I.
a GAIL I'm THE NIGHT.

A sudden gust of wind wrenched the
loor from Godfrey's grasp and slammed
II with a bang that echoed 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 in
charge of the devious business Of the
"Tenderloin," shook his head despond-
emily.
Not a thing. Only" he added, his
eyes cleaning suddenly with apprecia-
ton, you were right about that De-
lanne abduction case. 1t was all g.
faked-up story on the mothers part.
She confessed his evening"
II thought h would IL you kept at
1eT," 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-
2hia 10 bring back Riggs, the forger.
Fleming's got the grip. Bad night,
"Horrible!" agreed Godfrey, Listen
20 that, now"
A gust Of extra violence howled down
he street, rafting the windows, Shrek
ng around the corners, tearing down
hgns, and doing such other damage as
ay in Its power.
There was a certain similarity I'm the
aces of the two men, especially In the
expression of the eyes and mouth. Age,
however, had given To Simmond's fea-
lures q trace Of stolidity which was
wanting in those Of his companion. He
lad been connected with the Central
bttice for many years-was ear of the
orce, In fact-and though be had de-
'eloped no special genius I'm his deal
ngs with crime, he possessed a matter
" fact industry M personal courage
which had frequently achieved success.
N the end, his chief had come to trust
lin greatly, probably because the bril-
ant theorists of the force made so
many fortunate mistakes. ,
Godfrey was a brilliant theOrtst and
something more He vas not so pat
ent as Simmonds, but hen he was
much younger. He had more magma
ION, and perhaps his greatest weak
less was that he preferred picturesque
i~olutions to commonplace ones. Dur
ng his three years connection with
he force he had WON four or five no
able victories-sO notable, indeed, that
hey attracted tie attention of the Rec
trd management The n of 1t was
hat Godfrey resigned his badge and
uttered the Record office as criminal
expert, climbing gradually to the posi-
tASAA Va % ANpU1drI. d solIlOe IDGn, the
Record a not waited on h police:
indeed, 1t had been rather the other
way around.
1t was with SimmOsids that Godfrey
tad long since concluded an alliance
bffensive and defensive. The one sup
plemented b 0ther-the eagle gave
ayes to the mole; the mole gave the
Eagle the power of working patiently in
Ihe dark. Simmonds kept Godfrey in
!ouch with police affairs; Godfrey en-
tbled StInm0nds to make a startling ar
rest now and then. Godfrey got the
story, Stmmonds gat the glory, and
both were satisfied. 1t may be added
mat without In the aeast suspecting 1t,
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
lied away down the street, then God
:rey arose and began to hutton UP his
coat.
Nevertheless" ne said, I've get to
be moving on. Icantt stay loafng here.
wouldn't have stOpped at all but for
the chance Of seeing .you.'
oh, don't CO." protested eimmOads.
VI was mighty glad to see you come
IN. I vas feeling a little lonesome.
wait TIL this squalls OVER, anyway
and have a smoke"
Godfrey took the proffeped cigar and
relapsed into his chair.
I'm only human" he said, as he
struck a match, and besides, theae,s
= fascination about you, Simmonds~-
there's always a chance of getting q
good story out of You. You know mere
York than any other man living, 4
think"
Simmonds chuckIed aOrnpIacentlv.
Il have been In On most OF the big
cases" he agreed.
Come. now" continued the other
persuasively. IF i consent to stay,
you've got to produce a story. Take
those big cases-which do you think
was the best of the lotT"'
THE best?"
THE most intricate, / mean-the most
puzzling-the hardest to solve"
We'll" and Simmonds rolled his
cigar refiectively, "the hardest to solve,
solved at all. There was the shooting
of old Benjamin Nathan, in the sum
mer OF 20. at his house on West Thirty
third street, and there was the stab
bling of Harvey Burdell. / never had
the least doubt that Burdell was killed
by Mrs. Cunningham, the woman he'd
secretly married. The stabbfng was
done by a left handed person, and she
was left handed; but w weren't able to
convict her."
Yes" nodded Godfrey; land the
Nathan case?"
There wasn't anybody in the house.
so far as known, but the two sons"
said Simmonds slowly, land both of
them managed to prove an alibi. But
I've always thought Hello! What's
this?"
The door flew back with a crash and
a man rushed ina heavy set man,
with red cheeks, who stopped. gasping,
clutching at his throat.
Godfrey had a flask to his lips In an
instant.
Come, brace up!" he commanded
sternly, slapping the stranger on the
back. Take a swallow Of this-that's
It," ...
ut seems to me I know him" re-
marked Simmonds. looking at the
flushed countenance with contemplating
eye.
"of course you dol" gasped the
stranger. I'm Higgins-th Marathon"
and he jerked his head toward the door.
"Oh. yes," said Simmonds. You're
the janitor Of the Marathon apartment
house, just across the street"
We'll, what's happened at the Mar
A