Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-31
The
QUARRY
6000OO
Bp JOHN A. MOROSO
Copyright. 1913. by Little. Brown q Co
Copyright. 1913. by Little. Brown q Co.

his caller was a captain of detectives
Of New York city.
For the fraction Of a second Nelson
felt as though his blood had turned to
ice water.
Molly entered the office, and her
bright face brought him in fuller real
iZation of the tragedy that was at
hand. But his years of self denial, his
whole life of splendid control of him
self, were to stand him in good stead.
What is it now, dearT' he asked
calmly, smiling as she came to him.
81 just anne In to tell you that the
girls are doing splendidly," she said,
sitting on the edge Of his desk.
He forced a laugh to his lips.
81 am busy. Molly" he said In feign-
ed reproof. There is a gentleman
business" She turned and gave a
glance to the detective.
"Well," she said, with a sigh, "I
shall be back in twenty minutes"
She left the room, waving a kiss to
her husband.
Al. <1udlubf NC 6dlu W hlb bCCtC-
tary, you are excused for half an
hour. This gentleman desires to see
me alone"
Adams put aside the correspondence
he had started to go through and left
the room.
"Mr. Montgomery began Kearney.
"I am Mr.. Nelson"
Cautiously Kearney abandoned this
line of attack.
BEG your pardon, Mr.. Nelson" he
said, "but l I'M looking for James
Montgomery, who came here about six
years Ago., got a job in one of the mills
rs a mechanic and rapidly made a
name and fortune for himself"
81 never heard of him." replied Mel
son, realizing that the change he had
made in his appearance had produced
uncertainty in the mind of his ques-
toner. May 1 ask your name and
business"
"T'm Mike K%earney of the New York
detective bureau" the sleuth told him.
you wish to arrest this man Mont
gomeryT"
Eyes"
"What has he done?'
Murder. He is an escaped convict"
"In such a quiet community as this
we would soon know of the presence
Of a man of the criminal type"
Nelson rose from his chair and walk
ed to the nearest window.
His powerful motor was near enough
to the window ledge for him to spring
into it and be off in a flash. The thought
came to him, but he did not act upon it.
give got Montgomery's records with
me-" said Kearney. The Bertillon
system makes it impossible for an Off
Ger Of the law to make a mistake in
Identification. I got his pictures"
He reached into his inside coat pocket
and pulled out the two rogues' gal
lery photographs Of James Montgom-
cry. handing them to the man standing
at the window. Nelson's hand trem-
bled ever so slightly as he looked at
the photographs.
He does not look like a murderer or
a criminal" he said, as If speaking to
himself. This looks to be the face of
some poor boy, some country youth
who might have made one mistake in
life or who might have been ~unjustly
accused. If he committed any crime
there must have been some reason 9TH
er than sheer criminal instinct. Icould
hardly believe this boy a murderer"
He handed back the pictures to the
detective.
II have his finger prints" said Kear-
ney. BE drew the Rertillon record
from his pocket. His uneasiness in
creased. He mopped his brow and felt
as II some strange. insidious influence
was at work within him to sidetrack
him from the path of duty.
"Now, If a man was suspected
wrongly of being Montgomery" he
suggested. that man would only have
to give his finger prints and his true
identity would be shown"
81 know nothing OF such Matters"
replied Nelson. a.
He was prepared to meet any de-
mand of the law save that of showing
the little whorls, circles. islands and
parabolas in the cuticle of his fingers.
Kearney had taken a little box filed
with charcoal dust from his waistcoat
pocket and was spreading some Of it
on a sheet of white paper.
He was ready to make the demand
for proof from John Nelson that he
was not James Montgomery.
John Nelson stood watching the
sleuth as he made ready for this single
simple but awful test.
He determined to play for time.
Why, he did not know, for a few Sec
onds, minutes or even days would
mean little to him now.
"If there is anything further you
wish to say" he told Kearney, 81
must ask you to excuse me. This mill
has just been opened and | am anxious
about the new operatives. | would
not have n of my girls hurt for all
the money that might be made with
machinery"
He went to a wide door which
opened directly into the operating
room. Kearney heard the purring of
the machinery increase In volume as
Nelson passed through the open door.
To Be Continued.
|