The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-28
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GA yOu h0NSlA OSSA - AANA
cambridge at ALL"
Mother, never-gambled in my life
until this year. 1 owe $4,000 in auc-
ton scores. In hunting for a diver
sion I fell in with the experts, and
they've rocked me. We usually
hipped it; that is, three of us played"
Three thousand? Arthur. you must
be mad!" said Mrs. cambridge. IF
this should get to washington at this
time. your whole career would be
wrecked Your father told you once
before me that he would never set
tie gambling debt, and he never
breaks his word. He couldn't be more
generous, but every dollar outside
our allowances has to be accounted
for. I haven't 5000. Certainly you
must be mad to get into such a situ-
alton at this hour. Any day your
first appointment may come. What
in the world shall we do? Go to bed
and let me think"
Arthur kissed his mother good
night and went to his own room.
But he did not go to bed. He sat
down by the window and stared out.
Presently he heard his father stir
ring about in the adjoining room.
Within ten minutes the whole house
was still. His mother was right.
He wasn't the same Arthur Balm
bridge he had been.
Detective Haggerty sat in his snug
little dining room, his elbows on the
table, a thick black cigar between
his teeth. Opposite sat his buxom
wife and between, ]. Mortimer
Forbes, the illustrator, who was
Haggertys guest for the evening.
Say, ever hear of 'Soupy' Symes?"
asked Haggerty, twinkle in his
eye.
sart,o rofo 1.lo-o.o T ...a,Y ..os
ing something about him." Forbes
inspected the ash on the end of his
cigarette.
yeah? Well, ran into him the
other night said the detective.
Hes been out four years. And what
do you suppose he's working at
Janitor in an apartment house called
the Rosedale over in ~the Nineties
somewhere. Some come down." Hag-
gerty laughed. II guess he's straight.
You needn't blush, old scout. I
kind O. like you giving that guy a
job. But came home with a bug in
my bonnet. Something ] couldn't
remember about him. So 1 looked up
the records. Daughter. Round %
by now. 1t was said that she was as
smooth as 'Soupy' himself, though
we never got anything on her. Dis
appeared when we sent her father
up
= Maybe she's turned straight, too"
said Forbes. you chaps lose them
the moment they turn honest"
We'll, it kind O. gave me a jolt
when I ran into him. I'd like to
know what's become of the girl"
iii tell you, Haggerty. She used
to pose for me. One day she brought
her father into the studio. 1t must
have been the day after his libera-
ton. He had the prison pallor. She
put the whole thing on the table.
They wanted to go straight. I gave
him the job at the Rosedale which
you know. is mine. and he collects
the rents and brings them to me
every month; and never a postage
without a break"
What's become of the grip
Il shan't tell you. You'd only be
hunting her out ana bothering her."
Haggerty suddenly scowled and
looked at his wife. Darn the tele-
phone~ he grumbled.
Shall answer it. Will, and tell
them you're out?"
With a grin the detective turned
to the artist. "An old game of
Friend Wife's. She doesn't like to
see me go out after dark
You know why. There are men
who have sworn to kill you"
Haggerty laughed. We'll, I'll see
who wants me-" He returned in five
minutes, his blue eyes a sparkle. IT
thought it would come sooner or
later. Mile, it was Simon Balm
bridge who called me up. Wants to
see me at once. It's dollars to
doughnuts that they've got to his
collection of gems at last
"Bainbridge?" Forbes began to
twist his coffee-cup. II run into the
son occasionally at the club. A
smart. clean cut fellow. But the
crooks are Fleeing him at cards.
They play straight, mind you, but
they make a business of it,"
"Millie,' said Haggerty, this guy
here knews 'em all. When 1 want a
bit of social history, I just trot up
to ]. Mortimer's studio and he rat
ties the bones. Home about eleven,
Mile. I'll walk to the corner with
you, Forbes"
1t was a quarter after nine when
Mullins conducted Haggerty into
Bainbrfdge.s study. He Immediately
retired, closing the hall door gently.
Hello. Haggerty, glad to see you"
The detective accepted a cigar and
drew chair over to the desk
WELL" he said softly, whats the
main difficulty !"
"Haggerty, I'm up a tree I've
tried to reason it all out. but 1 can't
get anywhere. Four of the most
valuable stones I have are gone,