The Washington herald., 1912-07-07
THE IRON M AN

am after. 1t will expedite matters for
both of us if you will tell briefly and
quickly what happened to you last
night" He leaned forward and low
cred his voice: "If you find it neces-
sary to divulge secrets-you may de-
pend upon me for silence"
Harrington shrugged his athletic
shoulders and drew step nearer the
other. You are correct in thinking
the necklace not in the safe at the
time of the robbery" he said. Though
its whereabouts at the time-or even
its return, is of little consequence, for
l believe it should be sufficient to know
it was not in the safe and likewise
not overlooked by the burglars-since
that seems to have been the important
point of your early argument. The
main thing is-what kept me out until
three o'clock He told that part of
his adventure; what he thought caused
the accident and how the truth of the
situation was suggested by the tele-
gram.
Mooney listened attentively to every
word and gradually look of wonder
settled upon his ever impassionate
features. He rose at the conclusion.
exclaiming, "Gad! What a strange
coincidence! And what clever devils"
His deep powerful voice lowered with
each word, until it became murmur
and finally ceased; like thunder-clap
which throws you out of balance with
its suddenness. then restores your
eauipoise as it rumbles away in the
heavens.
Something in the detectives manner
pleased Harrington; was it his willing
ness to admit an error which made
him unlike other men of his calling;
or perhaps Helen's praise OF his mar
Vicious insight. Offering a cigar he
asked il Mr.. Mooney would not join
him in smoke on the veranda.
"Just the thing / would like to do
but cannot" replied the other, accept
ing the cigar and at the same time
casting glance from head to feet OF
the younger man, making mental
calculation of his strength And now |
: find it necessary to take you partly into
INV confidence" He motioned' Harring-
ton to a seat and resumed speaking
"You no doubt have read accounts OF the
: Spencer-the Travers-and the Van Zandt
robberies?"
Jack nodded
"They were all similar to this affair
barring unwelcome visitors and
knockout receptions-even to the num-
Der and location of holes drilled in
the safe, all well conducted. battling
crimes and every one of them COM
nitted by the same pair of crooks,
who might be ghosts for all the clues
they leave. You know that all New
York grumbles louder and louder af-
ter each additional robbery; you know
what is said about the inefficiency OF
the police department-but you don't
know that we have been working night
and day, sweating blood, in effort to
land these men. Now perhaps you can
understand what this case means to
me-the press hasn't got wind of it
yet. but it will in spite of hell--it's
the one big thing of my life and !
would rather die than fail There is
much in my mind that I'm not going
to tell you'll shouldn't tell even to
my chief-and l hardly dare to think
but it's there and | need your CO.
operation to work it out"
"Mine!" Harrington exclaimed. GOOD
heavens-man! Why miner Why moi
your partner's?"
Professional help is not what need
besides, il it were, Milford would
be the last man on earth, not because
he isn't clever and all that. but we
don't hook up very we'll together"
what would you have me dol"
"Keen ont of SIGHT until Won heal