The Washington times., 1913-04-03
CHAPTER VII.
The Face Under the Paint.

WENT back with jeffrey to the stu
dio after lunch. although I was un-
easily conscious that my office chair
was yawning for me. Jenrey's
affairs are always SO much more in
as much generosity and self-sacrifice as
he credits me with in my ready devo-
ton.
We found Richards, the police leuten-
ant. waiting for US.
I'm sorry to have kept you." said
jeffrey. but found needed square
meal
"Oh, I didn't mind waiting" Rich
ards assured him. But you missed a
caller"
"A caller?" said jeffrey.
He and exchanged a glance Crow
whispered under my breath.
He didn't leave his name.". said
Richards. Hes the rug man.
oh" said Jeffrey. indifferently. did
he wait long?'
NO" said the lieutenant. HE ex-
amined the rug rather carefully and
said he'd let you know about it in the
morning
which rug was it?" asked.
1.-The one over there by the door.
That was the right one. wasn't it.
The lieutenant asked the last question
't.oh. yes" said jeffrey. He knew
which one It was right enough. Do you
remember what he looked ike!
.'Why," said the lieutenant. he was
a pretty tall, good-looking. dark
.oh. YOU needn't describe him. JEFF
>,ey interr,Ipted. Just remember him.
You may meet him again some time.
The lieutenant laughed What? Is
he one m Of vour"what do you call them
iaaT'S "T don't know" said Jeffrey. But 1t
will do you no harm to remember what
he looked like"
We esconced Richards IN .he iarse ,s'
chair and provided him with a Dig
cigar. ,,. ,ab,.
and began an elaborate pretense OF Set
ting it to rights.
Well" he asked, ANY luck Win ny
little arfair? Are you going to be aple
to get that portrait back for me?;'
The lieutenant unctuously licked the
vranner of his cigar and favored it
with the caressing gaze Of connois-
sour before he answered. re WAS III
very good humor with himself
II have got It," he said
"Already?" I cried.
"The lieutenant had the right guess
this morning" said Jeffrey. i suspect
ed as much" . ...
But you couldn't, figure out "hat
the guess was" said Richards
Then he turned to me-. Il oont tnina
admitting. Mr.. Drew. that this young
fellow has pulled some long shots IN
the crime-detecting business that the
front office has never been able TO un-
derstand. You saw one of them your
self, and they tell me you wrote book
about it. But when 1t comSs right down
to cases. an old professional tne1-
catcher like me has got few tricks
of his own. Mr.. jeffrey here mlshI
have worked his game, whatever II is-l
don't pretend to understand it.for nHe
wears and he wouldn't have FOUND IL;
But he came to me and put my manu-
on IL in fifteen minutes.
"Oh, you will see for yourself" he
went on, for both of us showed the sur
prise we felt at his announcement;
They'll bring IL UP in the wagon. IL IL
be here any time now. But the next
time. Mr.. Drew. that you write ne-
tective story. you might give the ponce
a little credit.
ut was near II O'Clock when Mr.. JET,
frey made his complaint He pulled
out a big gold watch IN a hunting-case
and looked at II impressively.
His picture'l be back here before :.
That's three hours Mr.. Jeffrey never
worked any quicker than that himself:
And. as I told you. he wouldn't have
got it back himself in five years.
"Oh. come,'' said Jeffrey. there
aren't as many fences as that In town.
I shouldn't have known the right one
to 60 to first, but 1 know something
about them. Besides. l could probably
have advertised a reward and got II
eventually"
You could have advertised said the
lieutenant. until You were black in the
face. and you could have gone to every
fence in New York city. If You knew
where they were. which you don't, and
Ut that you would never have found 1t. 1"