Evening star., 1908-01-19

of fIding the man with the lazy eyes. IL
seemed like a ridiculous quest. but ne
thought-now that he had one OF the
gang-that it was not hopeless. Indeed,
he felt somewhat humiliate, at having
permitted the thugs to escape Gt all.
They had clearly outwitted him. even
though it was done with the aid of
pistol and a blackjack. He admitted that
he had been beaten. That could not be
helped but to stay be aten-that would be
disgrace He learned among other
things that BARLOW was a precinct poll
tician He had served time for stuning
the ballot box. and was one of the para
sites who make a living by hanging on
to the coat tails of those who are more
fortunate in life Reasoning thus. II WAS
not difficult Co assume hat his unknown
associates were also engaged in the ma
tional game.
Consequently election night found
Brooks in the vicinity of the morning
newspaper Offices mingling with the pa
triots who were scanning the election re-
turns. After a while the detective went
up to the editorial rooms of one OF the
newspapers, where he was intimately ac-
uuainted From this point of vantage he
not only learned the latest news. but also
gazad out upon the crowd that throngeo
the street below. 1t was Wonder1ui
sight From curb to curb the space III
front Of the building was densely packed
with thousands of excited. cheering men
Their faces were study-some hand-
some some scowling. some Smli1ng. but
all filed with absorbed interest at tha
sight of the returns which Ysre being
flashed over the wires from every sectioh
Of the country ME big electric arc lights
made the scene bright as midday
Brooks scanned that array of upturned
faces with professional air-with the IN
telligent interest of one who is a stu
dent of humanity.
ticular countenance that was different
from all the rest. What differentiated
this man from all the others? he asked
himself. The answer flashed through his
brain instantly. 1t was in the eyes?
Those mirrors of the soul that so often
and SO eloquently portray mans char
acter. Amid that sea of eager. restless.
ever moving eyes. this particular pair OF
optics remained motionless. They were
more than that. They were absolutely
languid. Suspicion turned to conviction.
Brooks could have shouted for very JOY.
1t was the man with the lazy eyes. He
hastily summoned a special policeman
who was in the neighborhood.
"O'Leary." he said. you know most Of
the crooks in this town. don't your
Il do replied O'Leary unboastfully.
We'll get your gaze on that man down
in the crowd there. Don't you see? about
two rows from the car tracks. He's
standing next to a letter carrier. Do you
see whom l mean? The man in the brown
suit
Il see now said the officer after a
pause.
DO you know him?"
Il do" replied the special with con-
fidence.
WHO is. he?"
"Why. that's Hughey Harrison"
ssWhaf'S his iine?''
"Oh. everything-he's what we call
handy man.
well. want him"
What is it for-picking pockets
Brooks smiled grimiy.
'I can't tell yet: it may be for some
thing more serious than that.
Well" said the special, ''Tll try to get
him for you"
The two men started downstairs ana
made for the street. The crowd was
so dense that their progress was slow.
| Finally they reached the spot for which
they were bound but their man had
quietly slipped away. Tney searched for
! an hour after that. but could find no trace
| Of the fellow. Did he know that he had
been discovered? Had ne guiltily fled,
or merely left in the natural order OF
| things? There was no answer to these
! queries. In any event Brooks had his
name and his record, and that meant
much.
! 4 \
| The following day the detective located
the lodgings of Hughey Harrison. 1t
was a dfsreputable section of the city
! and the landlady. with the craft of her
| kind. denied all knowledge of the man.
| Brooks. well armed. haunted the neigh
borhood. He determined to personally
keep watch on that particular house. He
| had an officer detailed TO assist him in
case of an emergency. Winter was ap-
preaching and the days were bitterly
cold. One hazy afternoon the door of
| the lodging opened and a medium
| man. dressed in a storm coat. came out
of the house. The fellow had the big
collar Of the garment pulled up abou. his
/ face. effectively Disgusting his features.
Giving the tip to his assistant. Brooks
| followed the man. They had not gone
| many blocks when the big-coated one
realized that he was being shadowed. lie