Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-06
u N S + T. N

derstood that Drew would not be
back for week.
lis that all you got?" the chief
asked disgustcdly.
Not quite, sir. BY luck l found
the chauffeur outside at the tax
stand who had driven him to the sta
tion-the Grand Central il was He
knew Drew and had often driven him
before. and he said that he was in a
devil of a hurry ito catch his train
this morning. 1t looked straight
| enough to me-.
'.All right; thatll do" AS the door
closed once more the chief turned to
Odcll. 1t seems as though YOU hao
the right dope; Drew must have had
word from that Chalmers lad and
| beaten il. and :hat adds more color
to your theory. If he isn't mixed up
in this thing he would have stuck
around and played the friend of the
family and braved il out"
Odell rose.
I've got to get line on him and
| won't call II a day until have" he
| announced. IT'S only 10 O'Clock,
! I'll go back TO the Meade house and
| have il out with Gene"
He had started for the door Which,
the telephone on the captains desk
| whirred and instinctively he waited.
"Yes.-Who?-Oh. it's you, is it.
Porter? The sergeant? Yes,
he's here"
odell spranE forward and seized
the receiver.
Hello. Porter Where are you
phoninG FROM"
lis that you. sergeant" Porter
! fairly yelpci with excitement. I'm
talking from the booth in Nolkcrt's
drug store over on Third Avenue; you
know the place. we had him up Il
couple Of months ago for selling
snow"
What are YOU doing there" de-
manded the eNaspcratcd Odcil. II
left you to watch Gene Chalmers
The last | heard Of you you were
playing cards with him
Yes. and lie rocked me-" Porter re-
tortcd. I'm trailing him now. He's
across the street in taiior's shop
next the corner: II was all closed
and dark, but he let himself in with
a key.
Keep your eye on that shop till I
get there" ordered Odell. IF he
comes out shadow him. but phone
back here to headquarters the first
chance YOU get SO that | can follow
YOU. Get mc?''
Sure. sergeant
There came the almost simultanc-
Gus click Of two receivers, and Odell
turned to his chief
Can l have Miller? I've Il bunch
we'll need him: Gene Chalmers thinks
he has given Porter the slip and he
Is over on Third Avenue in some Joint
that has a shop in front for a blind
| rather think there Will be develop
ments."
with the readily accorded pcrmis-
sion he and Miller TAXED swiftly up-
town. dism!ssing the ear a block from
their destination. Most OF the shops
were closed: hut the avenue was
still brightly lighted. and as they
approached the drug store they could
d.stins ush Porter's short, stocky
figure leaning nonchalantly against
the lamppost at the curb
AS they ncarcd him he turned and
greeted them bo!sterously in the
tongue language of the quarter for
the benefit OF any chance passer-by,
then drew them around the corner.
Look back over your shoulder" he
said In low, hurried tones. See that
shop between the dciicatcssen and the
tobacconist's? That's the Joint. Gene
Chalmers hasn't come out yet and no
one else has gone in; but it must be
some sort of a meeting place"
What is that narrow open space
around the corner on the side street.
back Of the tobacconist's" Odcl
Iucried. Looks like sort of alley
10 me. Miller, so and see II it runs
back of the tailor's shop and if there
is door opening on it. Look for
any lii-!ts in the rear and be careful
If there is any one hanging about"
a S Miller nodded to them care
Il lcssly and sauntercd across the
avenue Porter observed with grudg-
ing admiration in his tones:
Il thought that Gene WAS just
willie-ooy. but had the wrong dope
he's about as slick as they come I
thought at first that he was too
blamed anablc when he invited me
into hi; room but he seemed so anN-
ious 10 tell me all about how that
picture nearly fell on him the might
before and ready To offer u hundred
different suggestions that lie threw
me OF the track: and boy. how he
can play cards. Net that | took my
land of my number for Il minute
until just at the last he added
hastily But YOU yourself might
have been taken in by the way he
worked that. sergeant
Possibly Odcil asscntcd dryly.
Il tried TO get word to you before
] left the house to warn YOU against
that very thing: but you didn't come
down 10 report and | let YOU alone
10 handle the case your own WAY.
How did he manage to give you tie
slip?
1T was after dinner and he wanted
drink; said that his stepfathcr had
some private stock locked away in
the cellar. but he had duplicate