The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-11-18

ever came proving around our place,
the detective I'd try to get in touch
with would be-" He put his lips close
to his companions ear and whispered
a name.
fhe man whose name he whispered,
oddly enough, was at that moment
standing before his official superior in
quiet room not far away. Tall, reti-
Gently good-looking and well, If incon-
spicuously clothed and groomed, he by
no means seemed the typical detective
that the editor had spoken of so
scornfully. He looked something like
college athlete who had kept up his
training something like a pillar of
one of the more sedate financial
houses-he could assume and discard
a dozen manners in as many minutes,
but, to the casual observer, the one
thing certain about him would prob
ably seem his utter lack of connection
with the seamier side of existence.
The key to his real secret of life, how
ever, lay in his eyes. When in repose,
as now, they were yelled and without
unusual quality-but they were the.
eyes of a man who can wait and a
man who can strike.
He stood perfectly easy before his
chief for several moments before the
latter looked up from his papers.
"Well, Anderson he said at last,
looking up, 81 got your report ON the
Wilhenry burglary this morning. I'll
tell you this about tiff you do a
heater and quicker job in the next
ten years you can take this desk away
from NELL give it to you. AS it is,
your names gone up for promotion to-
day-you deserved it long ago"
"Thank you, sir" said the tall man,
smiling and sitting down. He took a
cigar and lit it. "That makes it easier,
sir. Because-Pve come to ask a
favor"
"All right" said the chief, promptly.
whatever it is, it's granted"
Anderson smiled again. "You'd bet
ter hear what it is first, sir. 1 don't
want to put anything over on you"
"Try t." said the chief "What is
it-vacation? Take as long as you
like-within reason-you've earned it
III put it through today"
Anderson shook his head. "No, sir
Il don't want vacation. I want to
be assigned to a certain case-that's
ALL" --
The chiefs look grew searching.
"H'm," he said. "Well-as I say
anything within reason. What case do
l.
The muscles of Anderson's left hand
tensed on the arm of his chair. He
looked squarely at the chief. II want
a chance at the Bat" he said, slowly.
The chiefs face became expression
less. 81 said-anything within rea-
son." he said, softly, regarding Ander-
son keenly.
81 want chance at the Bat ]" repeat
ed Anderson stubbornly. eff I've done
good work so far-I want chance at
the Batr
The chief drummed on the desk.
Annoyance and surprise were in his
voice when he spoke.
"But look here, Anderson" he
burst out finally. Anything else and
Tll-but what's the use? 1 said
minute ago, you had brains-but now,
by Judas, I doubt it'll If anyone else
wanted a chance at the Bat-rd give
it to them gladly-Pm hard-boiled.
But you're too valuable a man to be
thrown away!"
"Pm no more valuable than Went
worth would have been"
maybe not-and look what hap
pened to him.! A bullet-hole ia his
heart-and thirty years of work that
he might have done thrown away! No,
Anderson-Tve found two frst-class
men since I've been at this desk
Wentworth and you. He asked for his
chance-I gave it to him-turned him
over to the government-and lost him.
Good detectives aren't so plentiful that
can afford to lose you both"
wentworth was friend of mine,"
said Anderson, softly. His knuckles
were white dints in the hand that
gripped the chair. sever since the
Bat got him-I've wanted my chance.
Now my other works cleaned up-and
I still want it."
But l still tell you" began the
chief in tones of high evaporation.
Then he stopped, and looked at his
protege There was silence for time.
ooh, we'll" said the chief, finally,
in hopeless voice. $50 ahead-com-
NIT suicide-Ill send you a Gates
Ajar' and a card-'Here lies a On
fool who would have been a great de-
tective if he hadn't been so pig
headed Go ahead"
Anderson rose. THANK you, SIR"
he said in deep voice. His eyes had
light in them, now. 81 can't thank
you enough. sir"
Don't try" grumbIed the chief. eff
1 weren't as much of On fool as
you are, wouldn't let you do it. And
if / weren't so d-n old, I'd go after
the slippery devil myself and let you
sit here and watch me get brought in
with an internal paper bat pinned
where my shield ought to be. The
Bats supernatural. Anderson you
haven't a chance in the world-but it
does me good all the same to shake
hands with a man with brains and
nerve" and he solemnly wrung Ander-
sons hand In an iron grip.
Anderson smiled. "The cagiest bat
flies once too often" he said. "Pm
not promising anything. chief, but"
Maybe" said the chief. "Now wait
minute-keep your shirt on-you're
not going out bat hunting this minute,
you know"
"Sir? l thought 4"