Evening star., 1919-05-04


"a CLINT which he didn't seem quite
able to cover up.
II guess we'd better both get down
to my Office and talk this over" he
said. as he made motion for one of
his operatives to open the door for us
Once We were back in the inspec-
tors office. | had hoped. things would
array themselves in different light.
But my midnight hour in that dismal
office was nothing more than a dis
NAL succession of humiliations. 1t
seemed like a sort Of long drawn
third degree. in which | couldn't even
find the satisfaction Of speaking for
myself. For as Sloan sa, at his desk,
with both the Office wire and his own
private line busy, could think Of him
only as a big black spider at the CEN
ter of it's web, setting a dozen and
more threads of metal quivering with
his calls. talking to this person and
to that. from somebody supposed to
be acting for the district attorneys
the Pinkertons, and still somebody
else at police headquarters and yet
another unknown somebody at tho
,;rosset house itself.
Then he swung around in his chair
and looked at me. Il don't want to
talk about this. Balmy. any more than
YOU do" he said. But l guess I've
got this thing patched up"
"Whatll l have to do?" 1 inquired.
You stay right here and face it
out" he said Wen have some re-
ports to do over. and two or three af-
hdavits to doctor up, naturally. But
IL things go the way want them to
so. this-ths little accident of yours
is going to be something just between
you and my office Something. re-
member, Just between the two of US"
Its got to be some use" he said. in
hopeless little shake of the head.
You've tried to help me, l know. but
stares.
rs got to be some use" he said. in
his heavy voice. We want you here
and we can't afford to lose YOU"
But what good can be to you
now" | contended
"Yo.l stick to the alliance. Balmy.
and the alliance will stick to YOU"
was Slcan's answer to that infantile
protest of mine. IT'S an awful mess,
| know. but we're going to get you
out of it and keep you out of tin
some way"
saw then, in one prophetic fash,
just what life held over me. saw
myself the marked and uncomplaining
operative Of their Security Alliance.
with no choice as to what cases !
should enter and what cases should
shun.
You'd better go home now. Balmy.
and get some sleep" he muttered He
He was through with me, l could see.
the same as an overworked Office man
is through with an unlookedfor
worry that has kept him at his desk.
He came down to the street with
me and held my arm as climbed into
,he taxicah Then he slammed the
door shut and motioned the driver to
start.
sat there. shaken in spirit.
stunned. heart sick. 1t wasn't home
was going to. hut four walls that
would seem like a Jail; four un-
friendly walls, for which | paid SO
much every week. eulped as
thought OF them. And knew they
couldn't hold me in. any more than u
match box could hold u weasel So
instead Of going to them l command
ed my driver to drop me at Broad
way hotel. where the visible machin-
cry OF comfort at least consoles the
nerves as the drone OF motor some
times does, Once inside that hotel.
however. went straight to the
switchboard operator and put in
call for MIR. Winkfred l;aland"
The operator stopped short at the
Winkfred. as so often had happened
before. She asked me. with a half
fretful sort of Indifference. il the
name shouldn't be 'Winifred" Aad
had to explain that it was Wink
fred mans name. For | wanted
above all things to talk to my winkie
| wanted the comfort Of his voice
and some word of help from him
And. OH Winkie. IL oaly you had
been there to help me straighten