Putnam patriot., 1914-05-15

little from uneasy twitchings of his lips. His clear eyes were slightly elouded to look of apprehension as they roved the room furtively. He made no answer to the inspectors greeting for a few moments, but re- mained standing without movement. poised alertly as if sensing some con eealed peril. Finally. however. his anxiety found expression in words. His tone was pregnant with alarm, though he strove to make it merely complaining
 Say. what am l arrested for?" he protested. T ain't done anything" Burke did not look up. and his pen continued to hurry over the paper.
 "Who told you you were arrested?" he remarked cheerfully in his blandest voice.
 Carson uttered an ejaculation of dis gust
 'I don't have to be told" he retorted huffily "Tm no college president, but when cop grabs me and brings me down here I've got sense enough to know I'm pinched.'
 'Is that what they did to you. Joe? I'll have to speak to Cassidy about that. Now, just you sit down. Joe. won't you? want to have a little talk with you. I'll be through here in a secondD He went on with the writ ing.
 Carson moved forward slightly to the single chair near the end of the desk and there seated himself mechan- ically His face thus was turned to- ward the windows that gave on the corridor. and his eyes grew yet more clouded as they rested on the grim ! doors of the cells. He writhed in his chair. and his gaze jumped from the cells to the impassive figure of the man at the desk Now the forgers 1 nervousness increased momentariy. It swept beyond his control. Of a sud den he sprang up and stepped close to l the inspector.
 Say" he said, in il husky voice, I'd l like-I'd like to have q lawyer. What's the matter with you. Joe?" the inspector returned. always with that imperturbable air. and without raising his head from the work that 50 engrossed his attention You know. you're not arrested Joe Maybe you never will be. Now, for the love of Mike. keep still and let me finish this letter
 Slowly. very hesitatingly Carson went back to the chair and sank down on it in limp attitude of dejection wholly unlike his customary pastures of strength Again. his fear fascinated eyes went to the row of cells that stood silently menacing on the other side of the corridor beyond the windows His face was tinged with gray. A physical sickness was creeping stealthily on him. as his thoughts held insistently to the catastrophe that threatened. His intelligence was toe keen to permit a belief that Burkes manner of almost fulsome kindlineSs hid nothing omin- ous-ominous with a hint of death for him in return for the death he had wrought.
 Then, terror crystallized. His eyes were caught by a figure. the figure of Cassidy. advancing there in the cor ridor. And with the detective went q man whose gait was sinking, craven. A cell door swung open. the prisoner stepped within. the door changed to. the bolts shot into their sockets noisily.
 Carson sat huddled, stricken--for he had recognized the victim thrust into the cell before his eyes. It was Dacey, one of his own cronies in crime -bO fha.t ixrI1t infa haH him kill Eddie Griggs. There was something concretely sinister to Gar son in this fact of Dacey's presence there in the cell.
 Of a sudden the forger cried out raul cously:
 Say, inspector, if you've got any thing on me, I-I would"- The cry dropped into unintelIigible mumblings.
 Burke retained his manner of serene indifference to the others agitation. Still. his pen hurried over the paper. and he did not trouble to look up as he expostulated, half banteringly.
 Now, now. Whats the matter with you. Joes ] told you that l wanted to ask you few questions. That's all.'
 But, after a moment. Garson's emo
 
 ton forced him to another appeal.
 Say, inspector''- he began.
 Then, abruptly, he was silent, his mouth still open to utter the words that were now held back by horror Again, he saw the detective walking forward out there in the corridor. And with him. as before, YVES a second fig ure. which advanced slinkingly.
 Again the door swung wide. the pris- oner slipped within, the door changed shut. the bolts clattered noisiiy into their sockets.
 And. in the watcher. terror grew for he had seen the face of Chicago Red, another of his pals. another who had seen him kill Griggs. At last he licked his dry lips, and his voice broke in a throaty whisper.
 "Say, inspector, if you've got any thing against me, why
 sWho said there was anything against you, Joey Burke rejoined, in a voice that was genially chiding.