The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-31
THE BLIND ALLEY


times he helped some conyivial mil
lienaire into his hall or told taxicab
driver what was what. More than
few blank notes were slipped into his
palm during the year, all quite legiti-
mately, as recognition of some act
of kindness. Far be it that he should
let some poor millionaire catch pneu-
monia on his own dcorsteps for the
want of a little courtesy.
The wealth of this select neighbor-
hood was something he liked to null
over. East of Central Park, between
Fifth avenue and Madison, the com
bined fortunes of these 2o-odd fami-
lies would have paid the public debt.
Anyhow, the Sunday newspapers said
SO, and they ought to know. Be-
sides, it was the one aristocratic spot
in New York that the dark wing of
scandal had never touched.
About all Officer Hardman had to
do was tC try the grilled doors of
three or four of these little palaces
and pass on. The Golden residence
was the last in line. but most impor-
tant. The owners were at Palm
Beach; the Cobdens now resided in
Europe, when Cobdens ambassadorIal
duties detained him. For two years
now the family had been absent
In the morning a caretaker went
through: at midnight, or thereabout.
Officer Hartman tried the grilled
doors, basement and entrance. There
was some very fine paintings inside,
but the famous gold dinner service
was in the stronghold of down town
bank, and the Chinese porcelains were
in a corner of the Metropolitan Mu-
scum.
The house stood between two street
lamps. and what with the snow and
the marble front, it was a beautiful
gray picture. Hardman tried the
basement grill perfunctorily, turned
to mount the front steps. and paused,
shocked out of his detachment Foot
prints came down the steps. clear -cut
Impressions in the sno wand none
went up
Instantly Became Alert
Instantly the policeman became
alert. There was over half million
in oils by old masters in the Golden
house. and he believed he grasped the
significance of these footprints. Pic
ture thieves. They had entered dur
ing the binding snowstorm, and they
had timed him, too. for these marks
were less than an hour old
Next he ran to the curb where he
saw automobile tracks, private ma
chine. for taxis did not use such a
broad. expensive tire. Picture thieves
two of them! Hartman did not waste
any time trying doors. He set off
briskly toward the nearest call box
and telephoned particulars to the pre-
cinct. Then he returned tc the Cob
den house and stood guard.
There was lounger at the station
desk when the call came in. He was
fine specimen of a man, indisput-
ably Irish. He bulked like the Far
nese Hercules, but the gods had given
him a very human head, a pair OF
humorous blue eyes and a firm but
kindly mouth hidden under a stubbly
black mustache. He was one of the
least known and, at the same time,
one of the most feared of all the de-
tectives on the metropolitan force.
He had no political affiliations,
which doubtless accounted for his
lack of public renown. But burglars
knew him, and gunner, gamblers and
sneak thieves and they gave him
wide berth when they could. For
Detective Haggerty had de- zen meta
phorical notches in his automatic and
was a bad man in close quarters.
One of his habits, which had proved
very profitable indeed. was to wan
der among the different uptown pre-
cincts at night. Sometimes an or
binary episode led to astonishing Sc
quenees
And perhaps the humanity of it all
interested him. Family quarrels.
street fights, gambling raids, thiev-
s.. cry, assaults and murder like feed
ing stream tc'the river of life--these
things flowed under his judicial eye
He did not always follow the letter of
the law; he was keen interpreter of
it. not a mere automaton who felt in
duty bound to make the arrest first
and then investigate.
Say, Haggerty, this call is from
Officer Hardman. He says there's
evidence of picture robbery at the
Golden house. Run over and have a
look, will your"
Sure
A quarter of an hour later Hag-
gerty Joined the waiting policeman
ANY pedestrians go by?"
Not one, either side. Take a
look at these prints. A two-man job
one of 'em probably a chauffeur. The
car is a private one"
Good work.
Haggerty produced his electric
torch, stopped. and closely examined
the Impressions
1.-TWO men. all right. One of 'em
walked pigeon-toed. and the other
carried something heavy. His pres
sure goes down to the stone Patent
feathers number six and walking
shoes number five. That's queer
looking foot. Hardman: very small
and toes in. How'll we break in?
/ don't think my skeleton'n fit that