The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-05

- N"SSo hclc ulSpldyeQ a QudullLJ VI
quaint vases and oriental ornaments
of hammered brass and bronze. The
outer room was almost crowded with
rolls of carpets. In an inner room two
dusky skinned attendants were rolling
a magnificent rug, which had seeming
ly been spread for inspection by some
possible buyer.
Bronson affected to be in a great
hurry. Saying that he had just come
In for glimpse of the goods on show
and would pay another visit later in
order to give them a more detailed
examination, he passed hastily into
each of four rooms.
All doors were open. There was no
concealment of anything and. so far
as he could Judge, no means of hiding
j even q dwarf, let alone a man of Ali
Singh's commanding stature.
Puzzled, but convinced that Raymon
Almonte at least was a harmless in
dividual, Bronson bowed himself out,
promising to call again on a day when
he was less occupied. For once, how
ever, his native wit had failed him,
because Ali Singh was actually rolled
up in the carpet which the two assist
ants were manipulating. He hurried
away and startled Manning by sto-
but ended lamely.
/ AS a measure of precaution 1t was
decided to investigate the recent his
tory of Mr.. Raymon Almonte. In
quiry elected from the house superin-
tendent that the curio importer had
rented the offices on the nineteenth
floor only week earlier, but his stock
had come from a well known Fifth
avenue house, and it was understood
that he was really bringing close to
the haunts of men with money goods
which they could not be persuaded to
waste time over by going uptown.
There was, however, an element Of
suspicion In the mere location of such
an emporium above Captain Ran
dolphs Office, so smart detective was
detailed to probe more deeply into Mr..
Almontes past. Nothing Of conse-
quence happened that day, but set of
dummy plans were stolen from
pigeonhole in the office during the
course of the following night.
Randolph summoned Manning at
once, and a searching inquiry was be-
| gun. The set of sentries who had been
ON duty were paraded, and one man,
after some hesitation, made a rather
shamefaced confession.
''I was on duty between and 10,
SIR" he said. "It's slow work up here
at night, as there is nothing to see and
no one to speak to. / know that
smoking Is forbidden, SO took care
l.. st night not to have any cigarettes
In my pocket. hadn't been on the
post longer than five minutes when
guy came down the stairs and crossed
the lobby to the elevator. He pulled
out handkerchief and box Of ciga-
rettes fell on the floor, scatterin' the
contents in all directions. He apollo
gized and laughed about it. When he
had picked 'em up he rang for the
elevator and went down. Then no
ticed that cigarette had rolled close
to the stock Of my gun. I'm sorry, sir,
but I smoked it,
"Did your said Captain Randolph
grimly.
Eyes, SIR" said the man sheepishiy.
"What's worse, sat down and went
straight off to sleep. / must have
slept there nearly an hour, and / tell
you now, sir, I've never felt so sore
about anything in my life as when I
woke up an realized what had
DONE"
Randolph nodded to the sergeant
who had brought in the squad. He
had heard enough. He knew now that
even trusted sentry was not proof
against Ali Singh's guile.
"By Jove!" growled Manning when
they were alone, "this is Ali Singh's
handiwork without a doubt. Bronson
was not mistaken yesterday. 1t was
only by sheer accident that the scoun-
drel failed to get possession Of the
drawings. BY this time he knows that
he has been baked. Watch out for
the next attempt"
Then Randolph smiled, and scratch
ed the back of his head as was his
habit when thinking deeply.
ut would be fine If we could make
a killing in this Office" he said.
"Why not" agreed Manning. "Let
Ius think this matter out clearly. Above
|, all things, we must avoid precipitate
action. I'm almost convinced that our
| friend Raymon Almonte is mixed Up
, in the business somehow. Surely we
can devise a thoroughly effective
means of watching him and at the
same time safeguarding your Office"
, The engineer officer smiled again.
"Good stuffr' he cried. Lets try It
now"
AS a preliminary, Manning sum-
moned Kemp and Bronson. Later,
they called the office superintendent
: in counsel and, with his connivance,
secreted such a number of police and
; detectives in the building that any
raid on Captain Randolph's quarters
J on that or any other night was bound
. to be defeated.
, Hence when a window was raised
, cautiously on the nineteenth floor
{ shortly before midnight the resultant
creaking set the nerves of twenty men
: on edge. Creeping in felt slippers
drawn over their boots, Kemp and his
) detectives Joined an alert sentry. who
with expressive eyes and jerked thumb
indicated that he, too, had detected
some suspicious sounds inside the
t locked Office.