Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-25

You understand that you will only be
wasting your time If you are hoping for
any information from me?" he declared
II have nothing to tell you"
The detective nodded.
! II am taking my chances" he said.
"You look as though you had common
sense, at any rate. There are a few
things you ought to hear"
On their way to the bar, they had to
cross the further end of the cafe.
Pritchard directed his companions atten-
tion toward a little crowd Of people who
We're just taking their seats at a round
table.
, Crooks" he whispered, every one of
! them. New Workers, for the most part.
| See your friend, Mr.. Tavernake?"
Elizabeth" Tavernake muttered.
Pritchard smiled again.
| Mrs. Wenham Gardner" he continued
well. we won't say anything about her
! Just yet: Major Post, very well known
| in the upper circles as Jimmy; Walter
| Crease, the man with his hair parted
down the middle there, and the pale face
| He plays at being a newspaper cores
| pondent over here, got a fiat on the
Adelphla Terrace, but Heaven knows
what he really does! And look-theres
Charlie Faulkes, out of Sing-Slng last
month. What a nerve!"
Tavernake looked at the round table In
| blank amazement, His companlons
words meant little to him, The three men
to whom the detective had alluded We're
the three men whom he had recently met
in Elizabeth's sitting-room. They were all
most correctly dressed and compared
with the other guests in their immediate
vicinity, possessed an air of distinction,
although, as usual, Elizabeth was the
dominating figure.
What are you talking about?" Taver-
make demanded. you surely don't mean
those people who are with Mrs Gardner?"
Prtchard led him on out of sight up
the stairs and into the smoking-room.
My young friend" he said II am an
old stager at this game, and you're Just
a trlie green, That class OF person
knows how to wear its clothes. They'd
pass most anywhere, that lot would, bet
ter than you or l, dare say, for they've
studied all the tricks. All the same
that very Misunderstanding gentle
man with the gray hair came out of Sing
Sing from doing a hve years sentence,
only last month
"a five years sentence for What?"
TaVernake gasped.
"Robbing a trust company OF something
over a million dollars" Pritchard an
swered. They never got the money back.
either"
Tavernake was silent. The thing seemed
to him impossible His companion had
ordered drinks and 1T fresh cigar.
You see, Mr., Tavernake," the latter
continued, biting the end of his cigar
and chewing il thoughtfully for a mo-
ment. London and New York are, after
all long way a. part. The people who
come and go In these restaurants are not
likely 20 know anything OF the criminal
side OF our city. AS soon as what we call
a tony American crook gets out OF prison.
he comes over here. Probably not a soul
recognizes him, and there are great fields
open always. ] am not sure.H he con-
tinued. that today the crook doesn't do
better in London than in New York
itself"
TaYernake moved restlessly In his chair
What the devil Is all this talk about
erooksw he exclaimed impatiently. II
didn't come here 10 listen 70 this sort OF
thing. / am not sure that / believe a
word OF what you say"
why should YOU" Pritehard remarked,
without pFoof7 Look here"
He drew a leather case from his pocket
and spread It out There were a dozen
photographs there Of men IN prison at
tire. The detective pointed to one, and
with a little shiyer Tavernake recognized
the face of the man who had been sitting
at the right hand of Elizabeth
You dont mean 3 say hs faltered
that 1irs. 6ardneF=