Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-28
CHAPTER XIX.
Felicite.

LOU re just the man L III iOOhliS lOT,
Bernie Dreux told Norvin. whom he
| CHANGED to meet on the following morn
ing. I've made a discovery
Indeed. What is ito
Hist The walls have ears" Bernie
cast glance over his shoulder at the
busy, sunlit street and the hnrryins
crowds. Come With "a melodramatic
air he led Blake into coffee house near
by. You cant guess it, he exclaimed,
when they We're seated.
And what's more. I won't try. You're
getting too mysterious, Bernie.
I've found him..
"Whomo''
THE bell COW; the boss dago: the chief
head hunter-Belisario Cardi.'
Blake started and the smile died from
his lips. DreuX ran on with some heat:
"Oh. don't look so incredulous. Any
man with intelligence and courage can
! become as good detective as ] am. I've
found your Capo- Malta, that's all
"Who is he?"
You won't believe me. but he's we'll
thought Of You know him: O'Neil knows
him. He's generally trusted
Norvin began to suspect that by some
freak of fortune his little friend had in
deed stumbled upon the truth. DreuX
was leaning back in his chair and BEAM
ing triumphantly.
Come. come. What's his Nance"
Joe Poggi.
"Poggi? He's the owner of that fruit
stand you've been watching
Exactly! Chief Donnelly suspected
him.
Nonsense Norvin's face was witch
ing once more. 'Pogsi is on the force:
he's detective like YOU
come off,. Bernie was shocked and
increduous
Have you Swallowed him for months
without learning that he's an officer?''
IL He's the fellow, just the
same
!. oh, Bernie. you'd better stick to the
antique business
Mr.. Dreux flushed angriy. IF he isn't
one of the gang he cried. what was
he doing with Salvatore di Marco and
Frank Garcia the night after Donneliy S
murder? What he doing now with
Caesar Maruffi if he isn't after him for
money!
Blake's amusement suddenly gave place
/ to eagerness
"Maruffi.' he exclaimed. What S
this?'
Joe Poggi is Matchmaking Caesar Ma
ruin out of the money to defend his
friends. He was at di Marcos house an
hour before Salvatore's arrest. | saw
him with Garcia and Bolia and Cardoni
more than once
why didn't you tell this to O'NeiIo''
Il tried to, but he wouldn't listen.
When l said l was a detective he laugh
ed in my face and We had a scene He
told me / couldn't find ham at a He
brew picnic. Since then I've been work
ing alone. Pogsi has been lying low
lately, but Bernie hesitated and a
slight flush stole into his cheeks, I've
become acquainted with his wife-we' re
good friends
And what have YOU learned from
hero
Nothing directly. but l think she's
acting as her husbands agent collecting
blackmail to hire lawyers for the de-
tense Poor Caesar, he's rich and Poggi
is bleeding him. Since Joe is on the
police force he knows everything that
goes on. No wonder You can't break up
the Malta
by Jove.' said Norvin. Il was warn
ed of leak in the department But it
couldn't he Posgi.'' He began to ques-
ton Bernie with peremptorness and
rapidity that made the little man blink
Mingled with much that was grotesaue
and irrelevant he drew out fairly cred
lble story of nocturnal meetings between
the Italian detective and Caesar AIaruffi,
which. taken in connection with what he
already knew. was most disturbing.
How did YOU come to meet Mrs.
Poggi?'' he inquired at last.
The question brought that same flush
to Mr.. DreuX's cheeks.
'She found / was following her one
day he explained. 80 told her | was
Smltten by her beauty. / got away with
it. too. Rather clever for an amateur.
eh?''
us she good lookinS?'
Bernie nodded. ''She's an outrage
flirt. though. and-oh. what a temper
He shuddered nervouSly. why. she'd
stick knife into me or bite my ears off
if she suspected. She's nsanely jealous y
ITS not nice position for YOU
mo. But I've something far worse
than her on my hands-FeIicte She S
more to be feared than the Malta
surely Miss Delord isn't dangerous
Isn't she?' Knocked the bachelor You
ought to see He started his ewes
fixed themselves upon the entrance to
the cafe with "a look of horror, he palei
and cast a hurried glance around AS if i'm
search of d means Of escape. Here she
is now
tTo be continued tomorrow)