The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-05-28

shook my head doubtfulIv
I'm afraid not" l admitted, "you
see" ''o
DON'T bother to explain. You either
"ouid or wouldn't, and that's all we
neeu TO know now. There's old Mr..
uaston and his wife. It's queer about
their ducking out so suddenly and
leaving no address, but maybe they're
only scared. Let's see who else ia
there-the Bradford servants and the
OLD mans, the old washerwoman-
and the families who live in the house.
we've got the circle pretty we'll COW
cred, haven't weH
More and more l had begun to an
preciate how valuable the services of
an experienced detective would be
likely to be in helping to solve the
mystery.
Look here, German" I said. "why
can't you take charge of this case for
us?"
whats in it?" he asked.
My face fell, and my enthusiasm
died a sudden DEATH Once more
was confronted by the specter of my
poverty. Of Whist use my talking
to high-priced investigator like Cor
man when all the money had in the
world was less than two hundred dol
lars, out of which had to live until
found employment. Yet I must serve
Barbara Bradford.
! "If you clear up this case" I an
nounced, "Tll give you every cent I've
got in the world"
He shook his head.
ut amt enough. If I take this case,
1t won't be for the money that's in it.
For that matter l can get all l want
from old CASTOR for getting his pearls
back. That'll be enough"
Then you will take the case"
cried jubilantly.
"On one condition. That you'll prom
Use to keep everything away from the
police"
"I'll promise that for myself and
Miss Bradford, too. That was the
one reason she advanced against my
telling you about things. She was
afraid you'd call in the police"
"Never fear about that. There's
over that bunch of young reformers
they've got down in Center street. This
hotel work don't suit me, anyhow. I've
been thinking of opening up an office
of my own. The recovery of the Gas
ton pearls would be a nice feather in
my cap to start with"
81 see," I replied, but you'll need
money for expenses and that sort of
thing, won't you? 1 have"
Leave that part of it to me-" he
retorted with quiZzical smile.
after all the years was on the po-
lice force I amt exactly broke by a
long shot. All you've got to do is to
keep your eyes open and let me know
all that goes on in the apartment
house. TIL attend to the rest Don't
do anything, though. without consult
ing me first"
"I'll gladly promise that"
Good enough. We'd better arrange
then to meet here every day at three
sharp. It's as good place as any"
"T'll be here"
"And look out you're not trailed.
They may try shadowing you again"
"Who do you mean by they" L
asked eagerly.
"Them that trailed you yesterday"
replied German with grin. IF you
don't know, don't know either-yet."
From his manner l was confident
that he already had shrewd suspi-
cion as to the identity of some of the
miscreants. The maze in the center
of which he had placed Miss Bradford
and myself meant far more to him.
undoubtedly, than it did to me. More
than likely his vast knowledge of the
methods of criminals and his acquaint-
anceship with others like Lefty Moore
had given him clues enough as TO
where to look for the plotterS. l real
lied that it would be useless to ques-
ton him further. He would admit
no one until he was sure
of their guilt, quality I admired
greatly.
"You can count on me-" l repeateA
am be here at three tomorrow"
Yet how foolish it was for any of
MS to predict what we will be doing or
where we will be twenty-four hours
from now. Seldom do things happen
in the routine of our lives as we had
anticipated. / was not there the next
day at the time appointed. By no pos
sibiIity could l have been there, how
ever much / might have wished to.
Many things had happened In quick
succession.
How 1t came about that my promise
to meet German went unfultilled can
best be explained by narrating the
events of the evening after returned
10 the Granddeck. 1t w6,s nearly tie
when l left the detective. | strolled
eisurely down town and had dinner In
he cafe where on one occasion had