Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-09-14
CHAPTER 1.
A CALL IN THE NIGHT

eyes cleaning suddenly with apprecia-
tion. you were right about that De
lame abduction case. 1t was all a
faked-up story on the mothers part
she confessed this evening.
Il thought she would II you kept al
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 does it happen you re
alcne2"
"Johnston's gone down 70 Philadel-
phia to bring back Riggs, the forger
| Fleming's got the grip. Bad night
HORRIBLE" agreed Godfrey. Listen
10 that, now"
A gust of extra violence hOwled down
the street. rafting the windows, shrek
ing around the corners. tearing down
signs, ana doing such other damage as
lay in its power.
There was Il certain similarity in the
faces Of the two men, especially in the
expression OF the eyes and mouth. Age,
however, had given to Simmond's fea-
lures trace Of stolidity which was
wanting in those of his companion. He
had been connected with the Central
office for many years--was dean OF the
force, in faCt-and though he had de-
Nelopcd no special genius I'm his deal
ings 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 bril-
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 inagina-
tiou, 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.
table victories-so notable, indeed, that
they attracted the attention OF the Rec
ord management The end of 1t was
| that Godfrey resigned his badge and
entered the Record office IA criminal
I expert climbing gradually to the posi-
ton of star reporter Since then. the
Record had not waited ON the police
indeed. ii had been rather the other
way around
/ 1t was with Simmonds that Godfrey
had long since concluded am alliance
/ offensive ana defensive The one sup
/ plemented the other--the eagle gave
/ eyes 10 the mole, the mole gave the
I eagle the power OF working patiently in
1 the dark. Simm)nds kept Godfrey In
/ touch with police affairs Godfrey en-
D g. {
| rest now and then. Godfrey got the
| story, Simmonds got the glory. and
] both were satisfied 1t may be added
! that without In the least suspecting il.
the mole was considerably under the
/ influence of the eagle Brains naturally
iead INDUSTRY besides, the blind must
/ have guidance.
! They listened until the gust of wind
/ died away down the street. then Cod
/ frey arose and began 20 button up his
coat
! Nevertheless he said, i've got TO
/ be moving on. ! can't stay loaing here.
WouldR have stopped a an but for
the chance OF seeing you"
/ oh don't go" protested Simmonds.
Il was mighty glad to see you come
/ IN. / was feeling a little lonesome.
! Wait till this squalls over, anyway
| and nave smoke"
/ Godfrey took the profEered cigar and
/ relapsed into his chair
/ I'm only human, he said as he
! struck a match, and besides, there s
/ a fascination about you, Simmonds-
/ there's always chance Of getting a
1 good story out OF YOU You know more
| about the criminal history of New
| York than any other man living |
! think"
Simmonds chuckled complacently.
have been in on most of the big
cases he agreed
! Come, now, continued the other
/ persuasirely IF / consent TO stay.
/ You We got 20 produce q story. Take
those big caseS-w which do you think
was the best Of the lot?'
The best"
The most intricate .aean-the most
/ puzzling-the hardest 10 solve
Well" and Simmonds rolled his
cigar reflectiyely, the hardest to solve.
I OF course were those that We're never
| solved M all. There was the shooting
/ OF old benjamin Nathan In the sum
mer Of 20. at his house on West Thirty
! thlrd street and there was the stap-
bing Of Harvey Burdell | never had
/ the least doubt that Burdell was killed
| by Mrs. Cunningham, the woman he'd
| secretly married The stabbine was
done by left handed person, ard she
was eft handed but we weren't able to
convict her"
Yes" nodded Godfrey; and the
Nathan case?"
There wasn't anybody in the hnuse
so far as known, but the two sons. .
said Simmonds slowly, "and 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 flask to his lips in an
instant.
Come. brace up" he commanded
sternly, slapping the stranger on the
back Take swallow of this-that's $
it,"
1T seems 10 me know him. re-
marked Simmonds, looking al the
flushed countenance with contemplative
eye.
"Of course you do!" gasped the
stranger I'm aiggins-th' Marathon. "
and he jerked his head toward the door
"Oh, yes" said Simmonds You're
the ja2itor OF the Marathon apartment
house. just across the street"
Well, what's happened at the Mar
athon?" demanded Godfrey. No
ghosts over there, / hope
"Therell be One,' answered Higgins
his eyes beginning to pop again. oh
my God"
Come" repeated Godfrey sharply
Out with II! What is it?"
It's murder that's what Il isl" cried
higgins hoarsely II seed him, a-Iayin
on his back
He stopped and covered his eyes with
his hands. SimmoEds had quietly OPP
ened a drawer and slipped a revolver
into his pocket Then he took down
the receiver from his desk phone.
That you, sergeant" he called
This is Simmonds. Send three men
over to the Maratho.l right away"
ae put back the reviewer with a jerk
Godfrey twirled the januor sharply
around in the direction of the door
Go aheal" he commanded. and
pushed rather than led him out into
the storm.
They made q dash for il through the
rain, which was still pouring in tor
rents. Halfway across the street, they
deserted a cab standing at the farther
curb, and veered 10 the right TO avoid IT,
Here we gre" said Higgins, running
up a short fight OF steps into a lighted
vestlbule. ITS in SCOT fourteen-sec-
ond floor"
They sprang up the stairs without
thinking of tho elevator--one flight