The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-01-11
UNSEEN HANDS
A BeluiIdering DetectiUe Story
 By Robert Orr Chipperfield

he had seen me, but he@went right up. to the back door of the tailor's shop and knocked twice quickly and after 8 minute once more. The door
 opened and he went in, and I beat
 it back here to .you.''
 "All right. Go over and watch
 the front of the shop and if any one
 comes out stop them and blow your
 whistle; McCarren's on his beat and
 he'll be along here somewhere.' Odell
 turned to Porter. Come on. We'll
 have a look at what is doing in that
 back room."
 They crossed the avenue. entered
 the alley and crept to a position be- heath the lighted window. where the detective strengthened and peered
 through the ragged hole in the shade. Only two men were visible in the room, the older one whom Miller had described a stranger The latter was gesticulating excitedly. and frag-
 ments of the speech reached Odells ears.
 T told him a week. sir. Yes, he seemed to, but you can't tell about those bulls. But where to, sir l There's still the difficulty about pass
 ports. *Oh, Honolulu. Yes. I can
 get the baggage out providing they
 are not watching the place." The older man leaned forward and spoke rapidly in an inistinguishable tome; and Odell saw the other glance quickly to the front of the shop and then back at the speaker with a look of horror on his face.
 Good God, man!' he cried; and the desarence was gone from his
 tone. I've helped in the other thing, and I'll admit that you've paid me well for it; but I wouldn't be a party to that for all the money in the
 world! I don't care if 1t ts,Td
 rather a'eI,, do a stretch than go to the Before the older man could speak, 1 the door leading into the shop open ed. and Gene appeared
 ''We're caught" he cried wildly. "Either Sims or I must have been 1 followed, Farley! There's man
 walking up and down in front of the | shop.''
 Shut that door, you d-d fool!"
 Farley Drew finished up with fe | rocious oath; but the other, whom l young man aside and sprang through | the door into the shop, while Drew | himself strode over to the window. Odell and Porter had barely time | to conceal themselves behind the | pickle tubs which Miller had men | toned when the shade was pulled up. | the window opened and the sleek | head of Farley Drew appeared cau- | tiously reconnoitering
 Nobody here" The head with 1 drew and the window slammed. Odell
 reached his point of vantage. Odell more in time to see Sims re-enter closing the connecting door careful | ly behind him.
 ! "It's the bull who came to your | rooms an hour or so ago looking for l you" The valet's tone was high and 1 quavering, and his face expressed ab- | ject fright. "He couldn't have fol- l lowed me here, for I made sure that | no one was behind me when I ducked
 into the alley. I tell you they're on | to us and the game is up!' | Are we doing any harm? Is there
 anything discriminating about this
 room or our presence here? 9" demand
 ed Drew, his tones carrying distinct | 1y at last to the listeners outside. 'The alley is clear and we have only | to walk out that way and leave that l fatfoot to cool his heels on the pave
 ment till morning Go back to my rooms and stay there until you hear l from me, Sims; and stick to the same
 story you told tonight if you are in 1 terrogated again. As for you, Gene-' ! His voice sank once more to a
 scarcely audible murmur. and Odell
 whispered hurriedly to Porter: Shadow Gene. Don't leave him
 out of your sight for a minute. I'll 1 take Drew on; Sims is going back to
 the Bellemonde Annex"
 l "How about Miller?" asked Porter
 "No chance to warn him now unless
 your man or mine crosses Third ave
 nue. Get behind the tubs quick, | They're coming out,''
 l roih lhelr nlulng piace, they saw Sims emerge cautiously from the door, peer up and down the alley
 and dart off to the side street. A
 long five minutes passed and then | Gene appeared, closing the door be | hind him. He looked neither to right i nor left, but hugging the wall of the houses he crept slowly to the street,
 hesftated a moment, and then head ed west.
 "Go on, Porter,"1 ode11 ordered. eff hno Yo headquarters at once"
 Without a word the operative gid ed away into the shadows, reappear-
 ed at the lighted mouth of the all
 ley, and vanished again in the wake
 of his subject.
 Five more minutes passed, then
 ten, and still there came no sign of
 the departure of the third man from the lighted room Odel1 began to feel a vague sense of uneasiness.
 What if Drew had gone out the front
 way, overcome or b1ackJacked Mil Ter. and made his escape No direct
 mention had been made by any of
 the three of the investigation going on at the Meade house nor of the se-
 quence of strange events which had taken place there; but Gene Cha1- merS had had plenty of time to dis cuss that with Drew before the ar : rival of Sims. How completely the !. latter was in his masters confidence Ode1l could not be sure If Drew had indeed a gullty knowledge Of the sinister problem it was evident that his servant was ignorant of it. The latters cry that he would rather "do l a stretch than go to the chair had been too spontaneous and too frank
 ly panic-stricken to brand sn1m as cap. | able of potential murder. l The ten minutes doubled in length , and just as OdelI emerged from be. } hind the heap of tubs determined tc } risk another peep through the win. r dow, the door opened and Farley Drew stood smiling on the thres , hold.
 I've been waiting for you, Sergean- OdeI. That is why got rid Of the other. Come in and we will have z 9 little talk"
 s For moment Odel1 was dumfound ,, ed by the. sheer audacity of the mar . who stood in the lighted doorway or = the alley with one hand slipped sug g positively in the pocket of his din {! nercoat, coo1ly smiling down at him 1o e1,r iy,if ',