The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-15

GaTT1ck UulSUeu- 4uciS
silence. He looked about stupioiy,
Not that he could have expected
anything else than silence. lie.
it was weird, uncanny. He nao
spoken to a mute and invisible audi
ence. Was it one, a hundred,
thousand, a hundred thousand! NO
one could do other than guess.
Always the radio is tempera-
mental thing, that is, il you can
say inanimate things are tempera-
mental; there's a natural depravity
about it. But think conditions are
fine, just now"
Garrick turned. It was Professor
Vario who had just heard he was
there and had hurried into the
building at the news. 1t has
worked best when nobody was
around to appreciate it and not so
good when it's on parade. The
radiophone with its delicate tubes
| and controls sometimes lies down
on the job at the wrong moment
But we don't have much OF that
trouble here"
! Hasty inquiries and a promise to
| put the whole of the Rock Ledge
equipment at their disposal fol-
| lowed.
Now, Dick" exclaimed Garrick
energetically, outside I've got that
| first call off. Now you can have
your way. To the city,"
/ AS they whirled down the splen-
/ did road Garrick could not get out
Of his mind the similar impression
he had between broadcasting and
in, nn
case it's one-sided pantomime, in
the other one-sided dialogue. Any
how, the same motto applies TO
bota, Get 1t acress: IT'S aSw at,
not much more than a year old. is
it, Dick? An old story to you; but
full of interest to me as a detec-
tive. Broadcasting as a business
will settle down, l suppose. This
Radio Central service is really a
public service. Just now it's like
the talking machine companies
selling you an instrument and CIV
ing away the recordsi"
A surprise awaited them as they
drew up at Glenn's garage guarded
by the Astra agency men.
Glad you came, sir, exclaimed
the agency manager himself. I've
got three men here, now"
Three menu" queried Garrick.
why is that?"
The manager, for answer. took
him inside and closed the door. In
the corner was a weIl-dressed, ex-
pensively-dressed man with a Greek |
cast of countenance, handcuffed.
This man-his name, he says, is |
Achilleo-came in here early to-
night and claimed this stuff, said |
he had bill of sale or something !
for it, and wanted to arrange for |
truck to take it out"
Il know" cautioned Garrick, !
looking at the handouts on the |
restless prisoner. But isn't this |
bit high-handed ?"
The Astra manager smiled know
ingly. with contraband, sir, like
this-stolen goods? He's an aCces-
sorry after the fact-maybe-at
least a receiver Of stolen goods"
The prisoner seemed to regard
Garrick as a savior He showed |
signs of loosening up on his surIy
reticsnce.
You see, sir, I buy the Inner
Circle -understand for fifty thou
sand dollars. understand? If I get
all the goods, understand ?" He
turned aside and opened his coat
for Garrick alone In his inside
pocket was a long envelope with
fifty thousand dollar bills. Il make
payment when get all stuff, here,
too. understand
Garrick did understand. It was a
matter of making a quick seIl-out
and getaway. Where's your bill
of sale or whatever it is you have
for this?"
Achilleo pulled out a paper. 1t
was signed by Georges and Rae La
rue as agent in fact. Let the buyer
beware!" laughed Garrick as he re-
turned it. Now, I understand that
the money is to pass tonight at the Il
Inner Circle when this is signed ~
The man nodded and grinned with
perfect worries. Then, if you want
TO get free in this little illegal 1
Mr.. Achilleo, and have
hat fifty thousand yourself instead
Of leaving it in court as cash bail.
AXE me to the Inner Circle and get
he goods"
The thought of the hard-earned
anu ]
he girl are now there" he report
I'd as he left the telephone, with
landcuffs slipped.
Garrick's raid of the Inner Circle
vas a noiseless, if not painless,
affair. But it was only so per cent
successful. The net closed on
Georges; Rae Larue was nowhere
lbout.
Georges shut up like a clam. 1t
vas more than evident, however.
hat he was not the "man-at-the-
op."
Thoroughly they searched. but |
here was not a trace of Rae. Nor
vas there q trace of Ruth or the
,thers.
"So-the cellar is on the roof"
aughed Garrick, as they uncovered /
he little concrete room they had |