Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-02
CHAPTER xvII-cOntInued.

I took Il from his mouth and looked at II
4 critically, as II to see II It was well alight.
: Then he turned to Hartley who was tilted
back in his chair. evidently nervous but
Il expecting Johnson TO open the CONVERSE
: ton.
We'll, Mr. Hartley" the detective began
speaking with great elaboration, Il have
located your man. At least, part Of him"
The dickens you have!" exclaimed Mr..
Hartley
Yes, sir. I may as well cut it short, sir"
flicking the fire from the end Of his
cigar and looking straight at Hartley.
Your friend, Mr.. James Walton, was the
man that was murdered in that cab last
week, and the man that killed him was
Mr. Maynard"
In spite Of himself, Mr.. Hartley had to
laugh.
The psychological effect OF the sudden
and unexpected connection OF those two
names with the murder was completely
overshadowed by the absurdlty OF the sup
position that Maynard was the murderer.
q Hartley had the presence of mind to con-
tinue the laugh until he had time TO get
out OF his chair and turn his back on
johnson for a moment two, taking
few steps across the room.
In those few steps Hartley's keen in
tellect had ample time TO see the trap laid
for him by the mention of Maynard's name
While he could not imagins how the de-
teotive had hit upon the connection be-
tween the two men and had almost guessed
a riddle which the whole police force Of
New York had been unable to solve. he
saw that he must pretend to be entirely
ignorant Of any such possible connection
himself
80 you think the only way to account
for Mr.. Waltons disappearance is to assume
that he was murdered, chr Then he
laughed again and went on glibly: well.
IL you know the murderer-Mayvllle, did
you say?-all you have to do is to go and
arrest your man Mayville. Where did you
pick him up7"
johnson realized that he was at fault,
but he had another shot in his locker,
carefully prepared in advance. He changed
his tone TO one of almost impudent famili-
arity and raised his voice
Well it's pretty clear to me- Mr.. Hart
ley, that you know more about Mr.. Wal
toms movements that Thursday night than
anyone else does. And II we took you up
10 headquarters and put you through the
third degree, we'd find out something"
Douglas example OF going TO Europe
and Judge WINDOWS advice about private
detectives we're about equally prominent in
Hartiey's mind for a moment He realized
instantly that he had placed himself at
the mercy OF the man before him. The
question was how TO escape.
Johnson's tone was distinctly defiant.
Probably the best course would be to adopt
the same attitude. Hartley sat down and
faced him squarely.
See here, Johnson, I didn't employ you
10 question me or to pry into my affairs.
employed you TO watch certain man,
~ Nd 10
me posted 30 that we could lay hands on
him should the necessity arise. You made
a botch OF 1t, and lost him the first Jump
he made. And you call yourself a first
class detective and run agency! BahI'
Johnson squirmed. This did not promise
very we'll for the realization Of his dream
\. OF being considered the greatest detective
in New York. Hartley went on:
Now I don't know anything about Mr.
Walton, who he is where he comes
from, and my reasons for wanting to keeT
track Of him are my business, which car
explain to the satisfaction OF anyone, head
quarters or anywhere else, II necessary
but I shall not do so to you. sir" RAISING
his voice as he saw his advantage. "Yor
might guess my reasons. knowing my fin
ancial connections and Mr.. Waltons voca
ton" This was a chance shot, but II wen
home when We suspect a man is likely
20 pass counterfeit money on any institu
ton with which we are connected, we lik
to be able TO lay hands on him" Th
~with an emphatic nod. Now. II you hav
any absurd theory that the man I EN-
ployed you TO keep track OF has been muir
dered by person named Mayville. why &
and work out that clue yourself, but yo'
don't do II az my expense, sir. I want yol
TO clearly understand that Now hov
are no longer required"
This did not suit johnson at all. H
saw that he was choking the goose tina
laid the golden egg. That would never dc
\ no he hastened 20 make all manner OF apol
= ogies OF course he was "only Just men
tioning Il" when he said that about head
quarters. and hoped MT Hartley would nc
take any offsnse. And. Mr., DOremus wa
getting along nicely although he ha
not yet succeeded in getting an introductio
TO the girl. Some girls were so difficult {
approach, and hurry would be fatal to sue
cess. But Doremus would soon know a
about Mr.. walton and who he was an
where he came from. He would also fin
out whether he was still alive.
Al the mention OF Doremus and the poss
bility OF unFaveling the mystery OF Wa
toms antecedents, IL not OF his wher,
abouts, Hartley's second thoughts wei
that Il might be better to continue o
good terms with Johnson for the presen
II he turned him loose. he might go
the police with his theory and they miEl
investigate. Hartley felt that ne coul
not browbeat them. When he proposed
johnson TO so on with the case. he stipl
lated and insisted on the condition tn,
there should not be the slightest eommun
cation with the police about anything viii
johnson was in HartieXs pay.
IF you have any murder clues to wor
out. do Il when / am done with YOU" W,
his parting injunction. "or at least do
on your own hook. Don't help the poli
on their job. They won't give you az
credit for It. Call on me for all the mon,
yon want for yourself and Doremus Y,
win never get as much by blabbing TO Il
police about your suspicious as you W
by attending strictly to your own busine
and making your reports 10 me-"