The Huttig news., 1908-12-26


 T got photergrapht of yeh doing i it. growled Hickey "Still. seeing as yeh never saw me before, I guess it won't do no harm for yeh to connect with this And he turned back his coat. uncovering the official shield of 1 the detective bureau An" commented Maitland. polite ly. "A detective2 How interesting."
 "Fire-escape winder's broke, all right This was the policeman. re- turned. And some ones let down the bottom length of ladder, but there ain't nobody in sight"
 "No," interjected Hickey. nd there wouldn't we been if you'd been watin' in the back yard all night"
 Certainly not" Maitland agreed. ! hlandly; especially If my burglar had known 1t. In which case I fancy he would have chosen another route-bv the roof, possibly"
 "Yeh know somethin about roofs yehself, donchuh?" suggested Hickey. Well, guess yeh'll have time to write book about it while yeh-''
 He stepped unexpectedly to Malt. lands side and bent forward. Some thing cold and hard closed with a snap around each of the young mans wrists He started up, face afiame with indignation, forgetful of the girl hidden in the alcove.
 What the devll" he cried, hotly. jingling the handcuffs.
 .Ah. come off" Hickey advised him. saYpb pap,f hinH Come along and tell the sarge all about it. Daniel Maitland, Es.qnire. alias Handsome Dan Anisty. gentle. man burglar. An. cut that out. young fellow; yeh're foxy, all right. but yeive pushed yer run of luck too hard"
 Hickey ransed, perplexed. finding no words wherewiih adequately to voics the disgust aroused in him by his nris. 9ner's demeanor. something far from seemly. to his mind
 The humof of the situation had just dawned upon Maitland. and the young man was crimson with appreciation.
 Go on go on!' he begged. feebly. Don't let me stop you, Hickey. Don't. please. let me spoil 1t all. Your Sher- lock Holmes. Hickey. is one of the finest eharacterzations I have ever witnessed. It is a privilege not to be underestimated to be permitted to play Rallies to you But seriously, my dear sleuth!' with an unhappy attempt to wipe his eyes with hampered fists. don't you think you're wasting sour talents?"
 By this time even the policeman seemed doubtful He glanced askance at the detective and shuf1ed uneasily As for the cabby, who had clustered in at first with intent to demand his due in no uncertain terms. apparently Maitland's bearing, coupled with the inherent contempt and hatred of the nighthawk tribe for the minions of the law, had won his sympathies complete ly. Lounging against a door jamb i quite at home, he genially puffed an unspeakable cigarette and nodded ap- l probation of Maitland,s every other l word
 l But Hiekey-Hickey bristled belllg- erently
 Fine he declared. acidly; fine and dandy. I take off my hat to yeh. Dan Anisty. l may be a bad actor, all right, but yeh got me beat at the l post"
 Then turning to the policeman: T got him right. Look here," Drawing folded newspaper from his pocI-et. he spread 1t open for the officers in- spection. "Yeh see them pictures? Now, on the level. is it natural?''
 The patrolman drowned donbtfully, glacing from the paper to Maitland. The cabby stretched curious neck. Maitland groaned inwardly; he had seen that infamous sheet.
 Now listen" the detective ex- pounded with gusto ~Twict to-day this here Maitland, or Anisty, meets me. Once on the stoop here. nd he's Matt land nd takes me to lunch-see? Next time it's In Harlem. where I've been sent with a hot tip from the c'mmis- s'ners office to find Anisty. nd he's still Maitland nd surprised to see me. 1 ain't sure then. but I'm doin some heavy thinkin'. all right. I lets him go and shadows him. After a while he gives me the slip nd chases down here, waitin' for him to turn up. Com ing down on the car buys this paper nd sees the pictures. and then I'm on. See?''
 'Uh-huh." grunted the patrolman, scowling at Maitland The cabhy caressed his nose with a so.led fore finger collectively, plainly bit pre- judiced by Hickey's exposition.
 One minute, Maitland interjected, eyes twinkling and lips twitchfng. How long ago was it that you began to watch this house. sleuth?"
 Five minutes before veh come. responded Hickey. ignoring the insult. Now
 Took you long time to figure this out, didn't it? But go on, please"
 Well. picked the winner, all right" flared the detective q guess that'll be about all for yours
 Not quite" Maitland contradicted, brusquely wearying of the compiea- tion You say you met me on the