Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-26

answered grimly. 81 saw the hold-up.
And I fatter myself was prompt.
tore strip of black lining from Father
Burke's coat and cut two holes with
pair Of scissors. raced across. The
lobby below Is bristling with Zone men.
But they didn't try to stop the clergy
man in the tortoise-shen glasses. The
moment I was out of the elevator I
strapped the goggles and tied the silk
around my head.
II risked the neutrality-suspicious. the
devils would wear their badges as in
the police force I didn't know NV
rank. But the display of diamonds
was promising"
tonelessly. II heard him say so. But
am dreamin' or has the traffic
stopped? 1t sounds supernaturally
quiet
Drake Roscoe laughed.
"Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth streets. {"
he replied, ARE barricaded at Sixth and
Fifth avenues. A Gordon of thirty
police is surrounding the block. They
expect a haul. I, less optimistic, am
merely grateful that we're alive! :"
The deputy commissioner took up a
telephone "Send Capt. Markham" he
directed briefly, and replaced the re-
ceiver.
John O'Saughnessy Burke-feared
and respected by 12,000-odd men
of New York Citys police under
the mystic CIPHER -. O'S. b." and
consequently known, but always respect
fully, as "JoSs'-found himself in a
quandary. Deputy Commissioner Burke
had heavy features, black, tufted brows,
and a permanent frown. His was the
face OF villain Of melodrama-ex-
cept that dark blue eyes looked out
from the shadow Of that mathemati-
clans forehead with the wistful inquiry
Of poet.
A huge cigar was held between his
impatient teeth. These ciRars were
famous in Centre street IS "Joss
visibility in his once was invariably
poor: today it was nil Commissioner
Burke's chair occupied an oasis in a
desert Of cigar ash. Numberless stumps
Uttered his trays.
Police Capt. Markham came in. The
commissioner glanced aside at him
through the smoke screen.
Got your reports?"
Eyes, sir"
Read EN-"
Markham cleared his throat, then,
reading from a paper which he carried
Report of bureau on the 16
suspects detained in Forty fourth street,
Forty-fifth street, Fifth avenue, and
| Sixth avenue on June 81" he intoned
monotonously.
Photographs, Bertillon measurements,
fingerprints, and other records give no
results"
Commissioner Burke swung round so
that his cigar pointed directly at the
captain.
This Comdr. Roscoe" he went on,
us going to be a 100 per cent nuisance.
Since last nights raid he's faded out
OF the picture. But we've got his writ
ten instructions to hold all the suspects
for his inspection. What charge can
We hold 'em on? They all say they had
legitimate business in that section last
highland none Of 'em are known to
u.s."
The captain withdrew. Commissioner
took up another telephone, and:
Send Mr. Solke," he directed.
A moment later his confidential
secretary, Mr.. Solke, came i'll. Solke
was slim and tallish, of very pale
complexion. His hair receded much
from high, smooth brow and his light
blue eyes conveyed an impression of
astigmatism by reason of slliS trick of
half -closing them at times.
ANY news of Roscoe?"
None, Mr.. Burke"
The secretary had a voice of satiny
quality
II shall be at my brother's-Father
Burke'S-apartment, from 3 until about
5. You know the number Any word
from Roscoe is to be passed along i'm
mediately. shall be back not later
than $50 to sign my letters then. Get
the car
Mr.. Solke bowed and went out.
In an apartment of the Memphis
Hotel reserved for, and that morning
claimed by, Mr.. Ramon de Sa, Brazilian
dancer and movie actor, an odd scene
was enacted at 3 o'clock on this same
day.
Mr.. de Sa, thick-set young man
Of dusky complexion, who wore matador
whiskers and whose eyelashes were
systematically black, lolled in an arm
chair smoking very dilapidated briar.
Stopford stood before him, studying the
Brazilian In critical manner. Stopford
| looked less spruce than usual. His
wavy brown hair was perfectly ordered
his monocle in place; but his lounge
suit lacked distinction.
This trregularity was due to the fact
that he was attired In "ready-to-Wear''
purchased that morning.
A little behind Stopford, and also
studying the seated figure, was a third
man, a burly man, black mustached, his
| ~ASOS-SA Ald1A anu uls
eyes piercing IN their regard. This
was Ned w. Regain, most famous private
inquiry agent in the two hemispheres.
On table beside the chair were
bottles of liquid, brushes, a box of hair,
powder, and other items of like char
acter.
Can look now?" De Sa demanded.
His voice was more than a little
gruff
mot yet" said Regain. "Your hair
| isn't dry. It's most important your first
| impression should be good. It will give
you confidence. BY the way, cut out the
| hurricane voice. You're pretty boy
from South America, not skipper Of a
freighter." He turned to Stopford.
What dyou think Of him2"
Simply astoundin," was the reply. II
never saw a nastier bit o'work In my
life. He looks Like the latest steps in
5.ai-t.5rEe