Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-09

into brokers' office on leaving col
lege, and had attracted the notice o
Manderson, whose business with hi:
firm he had often handled. The
Colossus had watched him for some
time, and at length offered him tn.
post of private secretary. Mr.. Bun
ner was a pattern business man
trustworthy, long-headed, method
ical and accurate Henderson coulc
have found many men with those
virtues: but he engaged Mr.. Bun
ner because he was also swift anC
secret, and had besides-a singula,
natural instinct in regard to the
movements of the stock market.
Trent and theS American meas
ured one another coolly with thei,
eyes. Both appeared satisfied with
what they saw. II was having j,
explained to me-" said Trent pleas
antly, that my discovery of a pis.
tol that might have shot Mandersor
does not amount to very much. an
told it is a favorite weapon among
your people, and has become quite
popular over here"
Mr.. Bunner stretched out bony
hand and took the pistol from its
case. Eyes, sir" he said, handling
it with an air of familiarity, "the
! captain is right. This is what we
call out home a Little Arthur, and
l dare say there are duplicates of ii
in hundred thousand hip pockets
this minute. I consider it too light
in the hand myself" Mr.. Bunner
went on, mechanically feeling -un.
der the tail Of his jacket, and pro-
ducing an ugly-looking weapon.
Feel Of that, now, Mr.. Trent
it's loaded, by the way. Now this
Little Arthur-Marlowe bought it
just before we came over this year,
to please the old man. Manderson
said it was ridiculous for a man to
be without a pistol in the 10th cen
tury. So we went out and bought
what they offered him, I guess
never consulted me. Not but what
it's a good gun," MI. Bunner con-
eeded, squirting along the sights.
"Marlowe was poor with it at first,
but I've coached him some in the
last month or so, and he's practised
until he is pretty good. But he
never could get the habit of carry
ing it around. Why, it's as natural
to me as wearing my pants. I have
carried one for some years now, be-
cause there was likely to be some
body laying for Manderson. And
now," Mr.. Bunner concluded sadly,
they got him when l wasn't around.
Well, gentlemen, you must excuse
me. l am going in to Bishops
bridge. There is lot to do these
days, and / have to send off bunch
OF cables big enough to choke a
cow"
Il must be off, too," said Trent.
i have an appointment at the Three
Tuns inn"
Let me give you a lift in the
automobile" said Mr.. Bunner cord
tally. Il go right by that joint. Say.
Gap. are you coming my way, too?
No? Then come along, Mr.. Trent,
and help me get out the car. The
chauffeur is out of action, and we
have to do most everything our
selves except clean the dirt off her."
Still tirelessly talking in his meas
ured drawl, Mr.. Bunner led Trent
downstairs and through the house
to the garage at the back. 1t stood
at little distance from the house,
and made cool retreat from the
blaze Of the midday sun.
Mr.. Bunner seemed to be in no
hurry to get out the car. He offered
Trent a cigar, which was accepted,
ard for the first time lit his own.
Then he seated himself on the foot
board of the car, his thin hand
clasped between his knees, and look
ed keenly at the other.
"See here, Mr.. Trent, he said after
a few moments. There are some
things I can tell you that may be
useful to you. I know your record.
You are smart man, and I like
dealing with smart men. l don't
know if I have that detective sized
up right, but he strikes me as a
mutt. would answed any ques-
tons he had the gumption to ask
mel have done so, in fact-but
feel encouraged to give him any no.
tions of mine without his asking.
See?"
Trent nodded. THAT is a feeling
many people have in the presence OF
our police" he said. 1T is the Of
ficial manner, I suppose. But let me
tell you Murch is anything but
what you think He is one of the
shrewdest officers in Europe. He
is not very quick with his mind, but
he is very sure. And his experience
is immense. My forte is imagination,
but assure you in police work ex-
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