The Washington herald., 1913-12-28

as these were tossed out on the Iolished
table top.
Get the straps from the golf bags"
suggested the other youth. 1 could not
help remembering how this scene was
paraneling another one Of the same ma
ture. and the same night, when Benson
and had been masters Of the situation
The man called Orrie seemed a Httis
nonplused at the fact that he lad found
no valuables in my outer pockets. But
he did not give up. He grimly ignored
my protests as he explored still deeper
and dug out my monogrammed wallet and
then gold cigarette case on which my
name was duly inscribed. He turned
them over in his hand a couple of times
Then a great light seemed to come to
him. He succumbed, as even his elders
have done, to a sudden sense Of drama
saw him dart to the other end of the
room and catch up telephone directory.
He riffied through the pages with quick
and impatient fingers. Then he strobe
back and looked me up and down.
Il know what this mans done" he
cried. his eyes alight with conviction.
What" demanded the younger man.
Hes visited more than this house to-
night. He's gone through witter Ker-
foots as we'll He's taken these things
from there. And now it is up to US to
take him back with them"'
/ could see the sheer theatricaIity of
the situation clutch at his two listeners.
j could see them surrender to it, although
the girl still seemed to hesitate
Hadn't / better call Uncle Anthony
she suggested. At one breath her
words brought me back to both the trag-
edy that lay so close at hand and the
perilous complexity OF my own position.
mo, that's foolish" cut in Orrie. The
cars still outside. Caddy, think you'll
have to come along. You can sit with
Jansen on the driving seat"
The hero OF the maneuver turned back
TO me- I was thinking mostly OF the soft
eyed girl with the baby-white skin and
how l could get her safely away.
viii you come quietly?' my captor de-
manded OF me-
Yes" answered. without looking I'D.
II was the girls voice, a little shriII
with excitement, that next broke the
silence.
"Orrie, he's not a burglar" she cried
out in her treble-noted conviction. Hes
a gentleman
What makes you think so?' demanded
the Indifferent Orrie as he motioned me.
with a curt movement of his Colt barrel.
toward the hall door.
Il know by his nails was her incon-
sequential yet quite definitive reply.
Orrie laughed.
\ Then you'd give tea and macaroons
to every burglarious barber out Of Sing
Sing" he scoffed. And our real an
swer's waiting for US in Gramercy
Square"
II seemed to take but a minute or two
in the car to swing US from Twelfth
Street up to Twentieth and then eastward
into the stiffness of the square My cap
Not word" commanded Orrie, and
could feel his insolent gun barrel against
my ribs as he gave the command for the
second time.
But this thing can't go on" I per-
sisted. You're only making a fool OF
yourself"
Shut up" commanded the other
youth. We know what we're doing"
But there's one thing that you've got
to be told" I fOrlorTly tried to argue,
that you've both got TO face
Not until YOU face the owner of this
keTfOot house" declared Orric.
They alighted. one in front of me and
one behind me, still carrying their fool
ish and murderous looking firearms. The
girl remained in her seat. Then the three
of US grimly ascended my steps.
It's needless to ring the bell.' wear
lily explained. My pass key will admit
you"
But insist on ringing" said Orrie as
/ fitted the key to the lock.
Il shall be compelled, in that case. to
call the officer who is watching US from
the corner" was my quiet response.
Call and be hanged. them" was the
younger mans ultimatum.
One word over their shoulders brought
my old friend McCooey, the patrolman,
| across the corner and up the steps. I
7 IA frsr
Then l turned on the hall lamps and
faced my two captOTS-
"Officer, I want you to look at me very
carefully and then assure these gentle
men l am Witter KerfOot, the owner and
occupant of this house"
Sure he's KerfOot." said the imper-
turbed McCooey. But what's the trou-
BILE this timer
Something more serious than these
gentlemen dream of" The youth called
Orrie had the effrontery TO push me aside
But we found this man burglarizing a
house" was his heated assertion. We
caught him at il, red-handed!'
And whose lead-pipin' was he stealin'
this time?" inquired the satiric McCooey.
We got him in Anthony GubtiITs H.
brary. at o'clock this morning."
Did yez, now"' said the quite unmoved
officer.
IF you three gentlemen will only step
upstairs with me, I can explain every
thing. There's"
McCooey, from the doorway. cut me
short.
I'm sorry. sir. but 1 can't be stayin' to
see the joke out. If them two joy rid
ers-'
But you've got to stay" I cried, and
l caught at his brass -buttoned arm as
drowning man catches at a life buoy.
Fact is, sir he explained in a lowered
voice, "Creegan av Headquarters has
Sing Sing litter bottled up in this block
and I'm holdin' wan end av the p'lice
lines!' -
"A what?'' asked Orrie.
"A jail breaker from up the river-a
tricky wan called Pip Forman the Rat"
The Rat"' l echoed, as remembered
the myomorphic face that l had seen
beaded with sweat above the stopping
shoulder of my man Benson
/ THE same. sir. But the street cor
ner's me place, just at present
| held him back.
Your place is here" I cried. dragging
him toward the stairs. And in ten Sec
onds I'll prove II"
What are y takin' me tor asked
McCooey, with sudden solemnity, as We
gained the second .oOr and 1 reached out
a hand to push back the portiere.
ITO that" / answered as he stepped
into the room, followed by the two young
er men with their two ridiculous pistols
once more at half arm"
There before US sat Benson. the ever
dependable and vigilant Benson, with an
unwavering eye fixed on a second figure
tied up in my wide-armed reading chair.
And Benson. as / looked at him, for all
the world reminded me Of a terrier keep