The San Francisco call., 1913-10-01

Gilaer pressed the electric button
on his desk. At the same moment.
through the soctagonal window came a
binding fash Of light that rested for
seconds and then vanished. Burke.
by no means nervous man. never
theless was startled by the mystic
rious radiance.
What's that ~ he demanded,
sharply
Its the fashlight from the Metro
politan tower Glider explained, with
smile over the policemans pertur-
bation. 1T swings around this way
about every 10 minutes. The servant
forget to draw the curtains" AS he
spoke. he went TO the window and
pulled the heavy draperies close. 1t
won't bother US again"
The entrance of the butler brought
the inspectors thoughts back to the
matter In hand.
My man. he said, authoritatively,
4 want you to go up to the roof and
open the scuttle. You'll find some
men waiting up there. Bring EN-
down here"
The servants usually impassive
mixed with dismay, and he looked
nodded reassuringly.
"Oh, they won't hurt you," the in
spector declared as he noticed the
mans hesitation. They're police Of
ficers. You get 'em down here. and
then you go to bed and stay there till
morning. Understandg
Again the butler looked to his mas
ter for guidance in this very peculiar
AFFAIR, as he deemed 1t. Receiving
another nod. he said:
Very well, sir He regarded the
Inspector with a certain helpless in
dignation over the disturbance of the
natural order and left the room.
Glider himself was puzzled over the
situation. which was by no means
clear to him.
How do you know they're going to
break into the house tonight" he der
manded OF Burke. "or do you only
think they're going to break into the
house?"
4 know they are" The inspectors
harsh voice brought out the words
boastfuily. Il fixed IT.
you did, There was wonder in
the magnates exclamation.
Sure" Burke declared, complacent-
ly. "did 1t through stool pigeon
'sOh, an informer,r Glider inter-
IQDlSQ. d iittit
YES" Burke agreed. stool pigeon
is the police name for him. Really,
he's the vilest thing that crawls.
But, il you think that" Glider ex-
postulated. why do you have any
thing to do with that sort of personY
Because it's good business" the In
spector replied. We know he's spy
and a traitor, and that every time he
comes near us we ought to use dis
infectant But we deal with him just
the same-because We have to. NOW,
the stool pigeon in this trick IS
swell English crook. He went 20
Carson yesterday with scheme 10
rob your house. He tried out Mary
Turner. too. but she wouldn't stand
for it-said it would break the law,
which is contrary to her principles.
She told Carson to leave 1t alone. But
he met Griggs afterward without her
knowing anything about 1t, and then
he agreed to pull It Off. Griggs got
word to me that It's coming on to-
night. And SO, you see. Mr.. Glider,
that's how know. Do you get me?'
II see," Glider admitted, without
any enthusiasm. AS a matter or fact,
he felt somewhat offended that his
house should be thus summariiy
seized as trap for criminals
But WHY 10 you nv ~
come down over the roof?' he In
quired curiously-
1T wasn't safe to bring them In
the front way" was the inspectors
prompt reply ITS cinch the
house Is being watched. / wish you
would let me have your latchkey. |
want to come back, and make this
collar myself
The owner OF the house obediently
took the desired key from his ring
and gave Ii to the inspector with
shrug of resignation
"Bnt, why not stay. now that you
are heref" he asked.
HUH Burke retorted. suppose
some of them saw me come In? There
wouldn't be anything doing until
after they see me go out again.
The hall door opened and the butter
re-entered the room. Behind ham
came Cassidy and two other detect
ives in plain clothes. At word
from his master. the disturbed
Thomas Withdrew with the intention
Of obeying the inspectors directions
that he should retire TO bed and stay
there, carefully avoiding whatever
possibilities of peril there might be
in the situation SO foreign to his
ideals of propriety.
Now Burke went on brislSly, as
the door closed behind the servant,
"where could these men stay out OF
sight until they're needed?"
There followed a little discussion.
which ended in the selection Of a
storeroom at the end Of the passage