Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-09-19
p 1.
A CALL IN THE NIGHT.

S1o ~ "iiA tiAS
door from Godfrey's grasp and slammed
1t 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 hat De-
lanne abduction case. 1t was all II
faked-up story on the mothers part.
She confessed this evening"
II thought she would il you kept at
her said Godfrey. sitting down with
q quick nod of satisfaction. She
hasn't nerve enough to carry through
a thing like that-she's too pink-and-
white. How Toes 1t happen you're
alone?"
"Johnston's gon down to Philadel-
phia to bring back Riggs. the forger.
Fleming's got the grip. Bad night,
amt it?''
"Horrible." agreed Godfrey. Listen
to that. now"
A gust of extra violence howled down
the street. rafting the windows. Shrek
ing around the corners. tearing down
signs. and doing such other damage as
lay In its power.
There was a certain, similarity in the
Saces or the two men. especially in the
expression of the eyes and mouth. Age,
however. had given to Simmond's fea-
lures Il trace of stolidity which was
wanting I'm those of his companion. He
had been connected with the Central
2hice for many years-was dean Of the
force. in fact-and though he had de-
Veloped no special genius In his deal
NnDQ with critna ha nnconcCnJ "a ..@tO.
OF TACT industry n personal courage
which had frequently achieved success.
In the end. his chief had come to trust
him greatly. probably because the brill
liant theorists of the force made so
many fortunate mistakes.
Godfrey was a brilliant theorist and
something more. He was not so pat
lent as simmonds. but then he was
much younger. He had more imagina-
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 no.
taple victortes-so notable, indeed. that
they attracted the attention Of the Rec
ord management The end of it was
mat Godfrey resigned his badge and
entered the Record office as criminal
expert. climbing gradually to the posi-
lion OF star reporter. Since then. the
Record had not waited on the police:
indeed, 1t had been rather the other
way around
1t vas with Simmonds that Godfrey
mad long since concluded an alliance
n defensive. The n sup
plemented h other-the eagle gave
eyes to the mole: the mole gave the
eagle the power of working patiently in
the dark. Sfmmonds kept Godfrey in
touch with police affairs; Godfrey en-
ADIe0 S11nnOnnG tn n u N n q 4 ~ t~- 80
resi- now and then. Godfrey got the
story. Simmonds got the glory. and
both were satisfied. 1t may be added
that. without In the least suspectfng it.
the mole was considerably under the
influence of the eagle. Brains naturally
!ead industry; besides. the blind must
have guidance.
They listened until the gust of wind
died away down the street. then God
Trey arose and began to button I'M his
coat.
Nevertheless he said. I've go to
pc moving on can't stay loafing here.
wouldn't have stopped at all but for
the chance of seeing YOU"
oh. don't CO." protested Simmonds.
II was mighty glad to see you come
IN: was feeling a little lonesome.
Wait till his squalls over, anyway
and have a smoke"
Godfrey took the proffered cigar and
relapsed into his chair.
I'm only human" he said, as he
struck n match. land, besides. there's
2 fascination about you. Simmonds-
there's always a chance OF getting a
good story out OF you. You know more
about the criminal history Of New
YORK n any other nan living. 1
think :
simmonds chuckled complacently.
Il have been in on most Of the big
cases." III agreed.
Come. now" continued the other
persuasively. III 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?"
puzzltng-the hardest to solve"
WELL" and Simmonds rolled his
cigar refectively. the hardest to solve,
of course, were those that were never
solved at all. There was the shooting
Of old Benjamin Nathan, in the sum-
mer OF 70. at his house on West Thirty
third street, and there was he stab
bling of Harvey Burdell. I never had
the least doubt that Burdell was killed
by Mrs. Cunningham. the woman he'd
secretly married. The stabbin1 was
done by a left handed person. and she
was left handed: blu we weren't able to
convict her."
Yes" nodded Godfrey; land the
Nathan ase?"
There wasn't anybody in the house,
30 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 few back with a crash and
. man rushed ina heavy set man
with red cheeks. who stopped, gasping,
clutching at his throat.
Godfrey had a flask to his lips In m
instant.
Come. brace up" he commanded
sternly. slapping the stranger on the
back. Take a swallow Of this-that'a
It,"
ut seems to me 1 know him." re:
mAfkeQ &lmmQnda. looking AT fha