Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15
Mr.. Reeder, Sleuth Extraordinary,
Uses a Thief to Catch q Thief and the
Tale, Complete in This Issue Of The
Stars Sunday Magazine, Is One of the
Best Yet Written by the Highest-PaM
Mystery W/riter in the World.

THAT Marylou loved the man is open to uues-
ton. The probabilities are that she did not;
but she hated Mr.. Reeder, and she hated him
not because he had brought her man to his
undoing, but because, in the course of his evil
dence, he had used the phrase 1.-The women with
whom the prisoner is associated" And Mr.
John Reeder could have put her beside Plessy
had he so wished; she knew this, too and
loathed him for his mercifulness
Mrs PleSSy had an apartment in West saith
street. 1t was in a building which was the
joint property of herself and her husband for
their graft had been on the grand scale and
Mr. Plessy owned race horses before he owned
number in Sing Sing And here Marylou
entertained lavishly
A few months after her husband went to
prison she dined tete-a-tete with Mo Liski the
biggest of the gang leaders and an uncrowned
emperor of the underworld. He was small
dapper man who wore pince-nez and looked
rather like member of one of the learned pro-
LESSONS. Yet his word was law in innumerable
shady establishments and questionable organiza-
tons. People opposing him more or less paid
tribute and walked warily at that. He was
immune from police interference by reason of
p their own failures to convict him.
Since there are white specks on the blacklist
coat, he had this redeeming feature, that Mary
lou Plessy was his ideal woman, and it is
creditable in a thief to possess ideals however
unworthily they may be disposed
He listened intently to Marylou's views, play
ing with his thin watchguard his eyes on the
pattern of the. tablecloth. But though he loved
her, his native caution held him to reason
That's all right Marylou," he said 1T dare
say could get Reeder, but what's going to hap
pen then? There will be squeak louder than
bus brake And he's dangerous. I never
worry about the regular COPS but this old
Teller knows too much. And just now I've got
one Of the biggest deals on that I've ever
touched. Can't you do him yourself? You're
a clever woman: don't know a cleverer"
OF course, If you're scared of Reeder-!"
she said contemptuously, and tolerant smile
twisted his thin lips
Me? Don't be silly, grill If you can't get
him, let me know Scared of himl IistenI
That old bird would lose his feathers and be
skinned for the pot before you could say Mo
LiSkr if 1 wanted!"
In the district attorneys Office they had no
doubt about Mr.. Reeders ability to take care
OF himself, and when Inspector Pyne came to
report that Marylou had been in conference
with the most dangerous man in New York
the chiefs assistant grinned his amusement
"No-Reeder wants no protection. I'll tell
him If you like, but he probably knows all about
It, What are you people doing about the Iisd
crowd?"
Pyne pulled long face
We've had Liski twice, but well organized
perjury saved him. We don't want him again
till we get him with the blood on his hands,
so to speak. He's dangerous"
The chiefs assistant nodded
so is Reeder" he said ominously ''That
man is a genial mamba. He's a nice black
snake, and you're dead two seconds after he
strikes!"
The chiefs smile was one of incredibly
He never impressed me that way-rabbit,
yes, but snake nor
7 AFTER in the morning a messenger brought
Mr., Reeder to the chiefs Office and he
arrived with that ineffable air of apology and
difhdence which gave the uninitiated such an
altogether wrong idea of his caliber. He lis
tened with closed eyes while his superior told
him OF the meeting between Liski and Marylou.
Yes, sir" he sighed, when the narrative
came TO an end at have heard rllmors Liski?
He is the person who associates with unlawfuk
characters? In other days and under more
favorable conditions he would have been the
leader of Florentine faction An interesting
man. With interesting friends"
Il hope your interest remains impersonal"
warned the chief, and Mr.. Reeder sighed again.
opened his mouth to speak, heStitated and then:
Doesn't the continued freedom of Mr.. Liski
cast-um-a reflection upon our department,
sir?" he asked.
His chief looked up: it was an inspiration
which made him say:
Get himl"
Mr.. Reeder nodded very slowly.
Il have often thought that it would be a good
idea" he said. His gaze deepened in melancholy.
"LiSd has many acquaintance of a curious
character" he said at last. "Dutchmen Rus
slams, Jewish persons-he knows Moor
The chief looked up quickly.
"A Moor-you're thinking of the Nine Emer-
aids? My dear man, there are dozens of MoorS
in New York"
And millions in Morocco" murmured Mr.
Reeder. IT only mention the Moor in passing,