New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
w ARNEY COOK entered the
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'"tS. SNd one OF the Qetec-
tives, at typewriter desk, said:
"The chief wants to see YOU"
His tone was ominous. Barney
lco.>~N Vp guiitily at the clock.
He had been given a holiday on
the previous day and told to crest
up' after his exploit in the Cats
kills. He had taken his rest on the
streets and at the motion picture
shows. At night he had gone to a
vaudeville theater with two of his
old gang. 1t had "leaked" to them
that he was a detective-a fact
which should have been kept a pro-
fessional secret. He had been pos
ing and strutting in their eyes till
after midnight. And he had over
slept.
He had always been able to invent
explanations and excuses that would
pass muster in the schoolroom, and
he had had a boys contempt for the
gullibility of his elders, but Babbing
had given him more respect for
adult perspicacity. He could never
tell how much Babbing knew, and he
found it impossible to lie with assur-
ance among the covered pitfalls of
Babbing's inquiring silences.
Of course he would say that his
mother had told Mrs. Jordan, next
door, that he was working in the
Babbing Bureau, and Mrs. Jordan
had told her son Dummy" and
Dummy" had told everybody. And
he had gone to the vaudeville show
to get away from the curiosity of
the neighborhood. And he was late
getting down to the Office because a
bunch of fellows had been laying for
him outside, and he had hung
around, inside, waiting for them to
go away and
Babbing was busy at his desk. He
asked Unexpectedly: "Who was that
you were talking with-on the cor
ner-as I came in?"
1t had been Dummy" Jordan.
Barney had to admit as much.
Hes deaf and dumb, is he?"
Barney hesitated. His story had
cast Dummy" Jordan for the part
Of village gossip. "Yes'r," he con-
fessed reluctantly.
Bab5ing looked over his spectacles
at him. "You can talll-on your fin
gers-pretty huently?'
eyes, sir"
Babbing said, into an Office tele-
phone: "Bring me the file on the
Dart gang" He pressed a call but
ton to summon his Office manager.
He remarked, aside to Barney: II
don't know what you're trying to
conceal. Is it anything Important"
"No, sir" the ingenious Barney
answered.
Gall right. Save yourself the
trouble Of looking so innocent, then.
Sit down"
He greeted the reverend gray
hairs of his Office manager with
"Arch, I've got an idea for that
Merriman Disappearance. The wom-
an who kept the lodging house at
No. 1875 was Mrs. Andrews, wasn't
she?"
THAT" Archibald said, ~ have
forgotten"
"Well, look it up. And have Billy
type her a letter on our Wallbridge
Chicago letter head, introducing me
as Adam Cook. Something like this
Dear Madam: am giving this let
ter to an old friend, Mr.. Adam Cook
who expects to be in New York for
some months on business and wishes
to get comfortable private rooms for
self and son. Anything that you
can do for him will be much appre-
ciated by Yours truly'-and have
him sign it Charles J. Wallbridge
Date it back about ten days. And
when he's tipping it have him put 6
6 on top of the in 1926. Do vol
understand"
Perfectly"
Good What are we using Room
1047 for?"
81 think it's disengaged."
Clear it out and fix it up for me
as Adam Cook. III promote that
tunneling machine again. Get the
model in there and the blue prints
and put Clara in charge. I'll move
in this afternoon, and expect they'll
start to check. me up right away. We
don't want any holes in our cover
"I'll attend to it."
"And have the name painted OF
the door"
A clerk had entered with a file O,
typewriter reports in loose-lea.
binder. Babbing had taken it while
he was still talking to Archibald
and he turned over the pages, rap