Evening star., 1923-12-25
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER y.
ON NEW vEap'C DAv

"'Your cellar?'" Geoff repeated with
grim humor. You're the feller Doc
Hood told me to expect? Mr.. Allen, If
L could find a cellar right now seems
to me I'd crawl into it till all this
ruckus is over. l been spendin' more
time mindin' other folks business than
my ovn!"
Then you ought to have some news
for me- The detective laughed. do
you know if any messages came for
Lane while he was away at the fu-
neral?"
"Ain't heard tell O. none.' Geoff
shook his head. 'I been workin' out
at the garage and / amt laid eyes on
on nobuddy from the house 'cept-say,
did you ever meet up with any O. these
here private detective fellers?''
Once in while" Aliens voice had
quickened. Your medical examiner
told the chief at headquarters that
Mrs. Cayley's lawyer had engaged one
from O'Hare's agency. Did you spot
him?"
We'll a feller come out TO me just
now when I was putin away my tools
and let on that he was the manager Of
Mr.: Benkard's office on Broad street
Cayley, but he was so all-fred Gurus,
| kinder 'spicioned him." replied Geoff
'Gittin' on to fifty, he Is, with a gray
mustache as stiff as paint brush and
little. beady eyes. He's got on a new.
dark suit that he acts as though he
amt used to, and false front to his
hair. and his hands look 'sif they'd
done harder work than shade the ones
o the suckers that go speckilatin'
down on that there stock market"
You're no sucker, that's one thing
sure" Allen exclaimed. Il know that
bird: he's Mahoney. one of O'Hare's s
and I'll have to keep pretty well under
cover while I'm trailing Lane down here.
You met Lyons the other night? If you
see him. give him the office. will your"
Whose office?" demanded Geoff
Put him wise; tip him off about Ma
honey being on the job. I may not get
chance" The detective wheeled his
motor cycle out in the middle Of the
dope. I'll see you Monday unless my
man beats it before then"
Geoff continued on his homeward way
in relief. Allen seemed to be all right
even If he did talk the doggonedest lingo,
but the harnessed stonemason had had
about enough of detectives, private and
otherwise If he was going to be ever
lastingly answering questions he might
as well ask few. even if II was none
of his business, and a plan for the next
day. which had vaguely presented itself
10 his IIlnQ, LOOK all at once definite
shape and form.
Accordingly, on the following morn
ing. attired in his Sunday suit and a
pair Of shiny. new, yellow shoes of
which he was bitterly conscious, Geoff
boarded the first train for New York.
He knew that the bank where Rupert
Ashes father held the presidency was
IN the greater city, and. on arriving at
tion gave the address Of its up
town branch in one of the West Sew
enties. Knowing nothing OF the dis
trict, he placed himself in the hands
to pursue.
Banks closed on Sunday. bo." The
latter gazed at him curiously.
RECKON it's" Geoff responded with
o mine, and ali the address | got is
that he lives in some boardin' house
acrost the street from it. I'm goin
to git out there and ask at evry
work that cash register thing too fast
Young feler! I'm onto all them tricks"
Honest; l didn't know there was
held a touch Of awe. Get in, buddy
| wouldn't have the heart to put it
over on you!
Nevertheless. Geoff kept his eyes
town and came TO a realization Of his
surroundings only when the taxi
stopped with s. jerk and the driver
opened the dOOr
THE banks over there" He pointed
TO an imposing edif1ce with a large
sign In gilt lettering over the door.
II you're giving it to me straight
though, look for the houses on this
side that's got cards in the basement
windows reading table board There's
plenty and you'll likely find your friend
In one Of EN-"
Geoff thanked him and handed over
the fare. adding bright, new dime.
mere, young fpller (rn rit
self pack o. them there cigareets 7
seen you smokin' when I first hired
you. Taint my business, but you'll
live longer If you take to a pipe"
Leaving the driver speechiess he
started off up the block. looking for
the signs in the basement windows
which had been suggested. At the
maid replied to his inquiry for Mr.
Robbins" with a brief shake of her
touseled head before she slammed the
door in his face: but at the second,
the landlady herself. opened the door.
She was person of ample girth. but
with a perpetually cynical expression,
and she eyed her visitor distrustfully.
I've got Mr.. Robbins living
here" she admitted at last. He never
has any callers. though, and don't
want none as far as I can make out
What's your business with him?"
,."I,y I've come from Mr. Ashe. the
ly. II was sent in from Long Island
with a message that's real impor-
tant."
"Well, I guess you can go right UP.
Those stairs are too much for me. a
dozen times a day. It's three flights,
first door at the rear. and if he don't
never mixes with the other guests"
Thank, you, ma'am," Geoff ascend
ed the three flights and knocked at
the door facing him. A quick. ner-
vous step sounded within. and the
door opened, disclosing an erect little
old man in Immediately white shirt
sleeves. with gold trimmed spectacles,
which had slipped far down upon his
nose: a newspaper vas in his hand. ~,
he began in dignif1ed accents. but
Geoff shook his head.
mot If you're Mr.. Robbins I come
all the way in from Sunny Beach to
see you on Mr.; Ashes account"
floor from suddenly nerveless hand,
as the old gentleman stepped back.
DO you mean-is there anything
Not as I've heard tell Of" Geoff
advanced across the threshold. It's
young Mr.. Rupert Ashe I'm speakin'
bout. Mebbe it Amt got to be known
round yet, hut he's goin' to marry the
was mordered t'other night down there,
and materially he's helpin' US with the
case all he kin. I'm workin' on 1t
with our medical examiner. DR.. Hood,
and when we wanted some informa-
ton bout this here Benkard's speck-
ilations durin' the last few years,
young Rupert told me to come to you.
Mr.. Robbins. He said you knew more
bout that crowd and the hull Stock
Exchange than anybuddy else in New
York;"
erect, the ghost of smile fitted
across his lined. aging face.