The spectator., 1921-04-29


 that. The wall switch for the electric light In the lower hall at the head quarters was right beside the outer door Jamb-as knew. It had burned out in some way, and that was why there was no light on when I went downstairs. And in burning out 1t had short-circulted itself with the brass lock of the door; Fred didn't know just how, but Grimmer had ex- plnined it. l asked him if Grimmer had explained how no volt light cur rent could cook me like d fried potato and he said he hadn't
 The afternoon at the office was a sort of cut-and- nd-come-agaln repeat of the morning. with lots of people mill ing around and things going crooked and croSS-wayS, as they were bound to with the boss gone and q new boss coming. Nobody had any heart for anything, and along late in the after noon when word came of freight wreck at Cross Creek Gulch, Mr. Van Britt threw up both hands and yipped and sWore like pirate. It just showed what a raw edge the headquarters nerves were taxing on.
 Though it wasn't his business, Mir. Ncn Britt went out with the wreck ing train, and Fred May and I had 1t all to ourselves for the remaining hour or so up to closing time. Just before five, Mir. Cantrell, the editor of the Mountaineer, dropped in. He looked a bit disappointed when he found only us two. Fred turned him over to me, and he came on in to the priv ate office when I asked him to. and smoked one of the boss good cigars out of a box that I found in the big desk.
 I liked Cantrell. He was just the sort of man you expect an editor to be; tall and thin and kind of mild eyed, with an absent way with him that made you feel as if he were thinking along about a mile ahead of you when you were striking the best think gait you ever knew of.
 No word yet from MT. Norcross, l suppose?" he said.
 I told him there wasn't.
 Its very singular to me, and to all of us, as 1t Is to you" threw In.
 The editor smoked on for full minute without saying anything more, and he seemed to be staring absently at a steamship picture on the wall. When he got good and ready, he be- gan again.
 You don't need any common plain clothes man on this job, Jimmie; you need the best there Is: a real, dyed in-thewool Sherlock Holmes if there ever were such a miracle"
 You think It Is case for de- tective?"
 II do," he replied, looking straight at me with his mild blue eyes. If I were one of MT. Norcross' close friends ! should get the best help that could be found and not lose single minute about It."
 Since there was nobody around who was any closer to the boss than I was, l jumped into the hole pretty quick.
 Can you tell us anything that will help, Mr. Cantrell?" I asked.
 Not specifically; I wish could. But can say this: I know MT, Rufus Hatch and his associates up one side and down the other, They are hand ln-glove with the political pirates who control this state. From the little that has leaked out, and the great deal that has been published In the Hatch controlled newspapers all over the state during the past few weeks. it is apparent that MT, Norcross' removal was a thing greatly to be desired not only by the Red Tower people, but also by the political bosses. That ought to be enough to make all of you suspicious-very suspicious. Jim mic"
 The tall editor got up and made ready to go. If l were in your place, or rather In Mir. Van Britt's, I'd get an expert on this job-and I shouldn't let much grass grow under my feet while I was about it. Call me up at the Mountalneer. office If can help" And with that he went away.
 It was just q little while after this that put on my hat and strolled across the yard tracks to Kirgan's office in the shops Kirgan was an old friend, as you might say: he had been on the Oregon building job with us and knew the boss through and l through didn't have anything spe- cial to say. but l kind of wanted tb talk to somebody who knew. So loafed In on kirgan.
 1 He loved the boss like a brother l As soon as I came in. he fired his kid