The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-03-17
: The r
RED MOUSE
A Mystery Romance
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By WILLIAM HAMILTON
OSBORNE
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd. Mead a Co.
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on the ground floor of the Iroquois
club He waited for some time before
ne could gain access to that estinahle
gentleman. for Peter BrOderick's hour
for rising was high noon The hoy
who aroused him awakened slumher-
ing lion. The lroQuois club covered
when Frederick woke up. Others COW.
cred too Rrudcrick's word was law
everywhere. and vet he wore no badge
OF authority. held no office. He did not
even want one. He was higher than
authority. stronger than civic force
He was power personifed. He had at
tainpd that mystical position In the
universe known wherever men cast
ballots as chairman Of the county com
mlttce which meant TO owe no mau
duty. hut to demand servitude and
fealty from every man. II meant more
II meant to hold the hag! II meant
that whatever Peter Frederick wanted
be got
"well" roared Frederick 10 the ser
geant. what in thunder do Won
want?"
The desk sergeant briefly set forth
plunged boldly into the purpose of his
presence.
"The captain wants TO know what
he's to do about this Hargraves mur
der"
Broderick stared hard at him.
"Hargraves murderT" he repeated
"What HargravesT
The sergeant went on to give him
the facts. Broderick the while was
thinking deeply Finally he interrupt
ed the other with the question:
Look here. sergeant. what was
there to prevent Hargraves being shot
down by a highwayman OF a thug?
Can you tell me that?"
''O6icer Keogh says
Hang Officer Keogh" yelled Brod
erick. "Eeogh is going to say nothing
but what he's told to say. Look here
does anybody know who killed Har'
graves?
mo"
$50 far so good. Now. then. that's
a dark street isn't It? And other
houses as well as Cradlebaugh's have
an opening on that street haven't
they? say that this thing wasn't
pulled OF inside OF Cradlebaugh's. II
was the work Of an unknown assas-
sin-a thug DO you understand" he
declared emphatically.
"You want the captain 10 work II
out on that theory. Isn't that it,
~ don't want the captain to work II
out on any theory yelled Broderick.
"Iet the captain sit stlll-do nothing
say nothing. I'm doing this thing. III
work out all the necessary theories
Do you hearT'
'"The captain told me to remind you
that Prosecutor Murgatroyd"-
Broderick sprang to his feet and
stood glowering over the sergeant
"Murgatroyd! Nobody has to remind
me OF MurgatrOyd. d-n him. I'm al
ways being reminded of him. He's the
only ofiiceholder In this burg that
hasn't got the decency to know that
what I say goes Sergeant" he went
on confldentially. this Is blamed i'm
portant thing, and before do any
thing I'm going down town 10 consult
Mr.. Graham Thorne. I'll bring him up
TO Cradlebaugh's. You tell your cap
tain to meet US there in an hour and
half"
Twenty minutes later Broderick wad
died into the private office Of Graham
Thorne. Esq. counselor at law.
'Thorne." he exclaimed. lounging
back comfortably in chair. "have you
seen about This thing? Do you know
what happened there last niGht?"
ThorLe smiled grimly and pointed TO
the pile Of morning papers on his desk
II knew about II at o'clock this
morning. I've been waiting for you TO
turn up for the last four hours" There
was note of superiority In his voice,
which, strange to say, Frederick In
nowise resented.
Broderick ever since he had met
Thorne had felt an admiration for this
tall, handsome, digni6ed young man
with the gray just commencing TO
creep In his hair. Thorne possessed all
the qualities that go to make up a
clever, astute counselor at law or his
antecedents, II is true. no one knew
uuBul ne udu merely dIIlNtu lew
short years before. opened his big law
Office stalked into the courts and out
OF them, into the clubs and out of
them. II cannot be denied that he
made his best impression upon laymen
and not upon the lawyers, although
even the members OF the bar conceded
that Thorne had ability. That he earn
ed a great deal of money was quite
manifest, for he spent II with free
hand II trifie too ostentatiously. lie
bobnobbed with the best people. knew
everybody worth while. and everybody
worth while knew him. Broderick fell
that II fate could regenerate him he
should like to be Thorne.
"Well," blurted out the politician
what are you going to do about it?"
'What are zoe going to do about itT
asked the lawyer In turn.
81 can handle the police" Brodericl
affirmed.
''That goes ] without saying. Blu
we're up against something more thar