The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-09-21


Foreign. sir. 'They call themselves
social democrats, but our special
branch men tell me that full hair
OF the crowd are anarchists, and such
rats as that / think Il must DO so.
for Nicolin and his Russians have had
the place under close observation for
weeks. And you know what that
means. sir"
yes. ! k. ow what that means"
"Amaroff was not a member. but
used to drop in there from time TO
time. He was very thick with the
man who runs the place, Greatman.
as he calls himself They tell me that
Greatman sat as a model for some
statue he was doing. back in July. IL
must have been funny sort of statue.
for Greatmans a weedy little Pole,
and drinks like fish"
For some time the inspector sat In
silence, drawing circles on the floor
with the point OF the light cane he
carried. The bartender dropped a
glass. swore, and then. with a stare
at us, retreated into "A little cage he
had at the back OF his domain. Doubt
less the presence OF detectives was no
incentive to trade in the bars OF Mai
den Square.
This Greatman-whatm more do you
know Of him?"
I'VE have had nothing against him
before; but all the same, it's his pri-
vate room that has the sanded floor"
The inspectors prophecy OF the pro
vious night came back to me with a
sudden remembrance: "Amaroff was
murdered in room with a sanded
floor, probably at no great distance
from Leman street, seeing that they
carried him there in a coster's bar
row" ! began to understand the NOR
bid significance OF the private room
in this little foreign club
We were drawing nearer 10 our
game; the scent was growing strong
er. Addington Peace leant a little for
ward, with a twist in his jaw that
raised ripple OF muscles under the
skin.
Continue IL you please" he said
"The room IS at the rear of the club,
and there is back staircase 10 yard
behind, whore costers store their bar
rows when not in use. II fits in with
what YOU told us TO inquire for don't
t. sir?'
Yes"
The inspectors stick recommended
its interlacing circles on the floor;
and we sat and watched. as II thereby
he were disentangling his sordid story.
So still were we all that the bartender
poked his luminous nose from his cage
in the hope that we had gone. lie
withdrew II with remarks on the po-
lice force which were distinctly audi
BILE, and opposed TO the complimentary.
Suddenly the inspector turned TO me
with motion OF half-apology, as II
at the neglect OF guest.
There are times, Mr.. Phillips" he
said. when evidence runs in absurd
contradictions. Observe the present
case. I'm which you are so good as to
interest yourself. We have ii from the
Russian police that Amaroff is their
man. and that in their opinion-they
being well qualified 90 Judge he was
murdered by Nihilists. We now learn
that he was apparently on intimate
terms with Nihillsts. and we have
good reason TO believe that he was
strangled in one OF their clubs What
do you gather from that?"
"They discovered his treachery. and
took an excusable revenge" said ].
"a sound conclusion And now let
MS suppose that Amaroff was not a 20.
lice spy at all; being, in fact. a dan
gerous Nihilist. What them"
why set yourself such a puzzle?r
mot for amusement" he said. with
his quiet smile. "And now I propose
a little experiment You must intro
duce us to this club. Jackson: the
doorkeeper will know You, and pass
us I'm. Afterwards you will go to the
back entrance in the yard you spoke
OF and wait. IL should be- easy TO
conceal yourself"
Eyes. sir. Am to stop Greatman
II he comes out?"
N"No. Stop nobody. We had better
be going"
The square lay desolate and lonely
in the bleak moonlight. We crossed
Il. and stopped at house in the
shadows Of the farther side. AZ our
knock slide flew back, and. In the
gush OF light. a hairy face examined
us curiously.
Vat is EFT" he said.
The SERGEANT stepped forward and
whispered. The man was sufficiently
satisfied for he dropped the slide at
once. and the door swung back to ad.
init us; the hairy-faced porter bowling
welcome In polite submission The
inspector led the way up the stairs
and followed az his heels. The ser.
jeant had disappeared.
II was a broad. low room In which
we found ourselves, the rafters OF the
roof unhidden by the plaster OF a cell
ing. Round the walls on benches rang.