Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-06

-. >. 49, hheiy To- place INV.
s.n IN jeopardy by eliminating mn
1D''ure member OF the police force, -
; iie caught himself up abruptly a.. !,
'Hi"s that he had made a falls,
h''e' ana added In haste: ar ,v,,
iooiish TO permit myself to bcco,n.
excited over mere blum: sbon1,
nave srasped the fact at once ~,
hcither you ncr your chief wo,,,
MAKE iaughing-stocks OF yourscIvn,
by attempting to bring me to fri,
on such charge and with such cvi,
dence! 1t would be n farce, n paton,
irame-up. and you would be Iuck.
IL you were merely dismissed re-,
inc force without having further ar.
tion taken against you!"
odcll could not help but admire -,
cieverness with which hla onnor,,
mad turned the tables, ana no .,,uas
candldiy. ''''e'
"rahted' Still"-thc smile faded
ana his jaw set stcrnly--'an arroet m
suspicion. with due publicity. incIud.
Ing the printing OF that note vcrb,,,,o
IN every newspaper in the city. wb,,o
achieve practically the same r.sv,,
as Tar rs you arc concerned. my don,
Mr. Drew. 1 fancy tina, Genes OK.
piaha'ion would not only prove in.
tercstinE reading 10 your circle ri
ac1uaintanccs. but would ,r.yo
your making others among tho nm.
sophis'icated scions OF wealthy fam.
HES"
Perhaps. but Gene Is not in n mo-
sition 10 offer explanations" Drew -.
torted smoothly. Having called VIM,
bluff. sergeant. IL seems to me ,h,
we are back at the starting poin, o,
my proposition. Arrest mo ~ va,
IKE: ! admit it would ruin mo as ia,
as New YORK society goes. nut ri
| oTcak you for IL; ana the world I.
VIDE Tor my activities. although no.,
Ter yours. unless you Join the arm,
OF discredited petty officials who opn,
private detective agencies and starve
Bring me the note. cali 1t square
and I'll make your career
lie was hts own dc5onair. smiling
slightly ironic self again; odcl
| studied him refectivcly for n mo.
r'ent before replying In the Iighl
M the revelation which had come I,
him since entering the room hi,
! theory. weak and scarcely tenabl,
as he had known II in his heart I,
be. had been utterly demolished; ant
the detective realized that he hat
clung to II only because no other
possible explanation OF the rnystcr,
| presented itself
Could Farley Drew furnish him
with the Information of which h,
boosted: Was Il within his powe,
10 supply the motive for this seem.
!nEiy purposeicss series of crimes? II,
aad spoken. too. OF strong cIrcum.
stantial evidence OF the identity %,
taeir perpctrator: II he were no,
o!uHins in his turn, would 1t not b,
well TO agree to his terms?
The note in itself would not no
necessary factor in his prosecution OF
a separate charge with Genes ties
'.mony available: and II appeared
extremely unlikely that any charS.
would be brought. On the other hand
odclls rcpugnance rose against en-
teTing into any traffic with this so
c:a! icech: and In a swift revuls!or
from momcntary discouragcment hh
'!-coHNdcHcc returned.
What could Drew know which h.
Tight not discover himself? VIII,
stoop to bargain with this parasit,
and thereby tacitiy admit his inabu.
iiy TO solve the case unaided, wher
every opportunity lay before him
Ills investigation was still only IL
preliminary stage. and he resolved
that not except as a mai resort woult
ne compromise with the man befor,
him
The silence In the room had re.
manned unbrokcn, and Odell was Sc
Acepiy engrossed in his meditation
tfat he had not noted the strained
look OF suspense which crept grad.
ually over the face OF his host. TIL,
mournful yowl Of n cat In the aIley
brought him swiftly from his re
veric. and aie Strengthened in HI;
chair.
You have stated the case will
admirable concisencss, MIR. Drew
Granted that / was bIufing AM
starting with the premise that yo,
arc not and that you really can sup
ply the information you claim, l Sc,
no need for haste in the conclusion
OF the bargain you propose. ] vii
at least guarantee that no oRicia
use Will be made OF the note unit
l have decided to reject or accep
your proposition"
An armistice" Drew threw bacl
his head and laughed aloud, ant
something in the quality OF his ton.
made Odcll eye him sharply. a swift
and inexplicabIe change seemed t.
have come over the man. and wheI
he spoke again it was with not
OF Irresistible amusement in hi
voice. You fancy that you will no
need the information which L cal
give you? You mean to continue th
investigation on your own accoun
until you are assured that YOU ar.
up against blank wall? Very well
sergeant. I've made the offer AM
1t stands open. When you decide a
you ultimately must to accent IN:
proposition communicate with M
man at the Bellemonde Annex am ,
will get in touch with you"
He rose and unlocking tho doc
leading into the alley he opened
ana stepped aside.