The Washington times., 1933-03-01
CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE
Locate prowler that wore
number leven overshoes and
packed a blued-steel short
barrel S. & W., old style, "A.
A guy that knows enough to
keep his finger prints protected
but not a regular professional,
at that"
How do you figure that
Slant?"
Hes too quick on the blast
for an old head. An old head
don't aim to sneeze nobody
off-not unless he's in a tight
jam. He aims to get away
nice and clean with nobdy
hurt bad. An then, take him
droppin' his gat. That looks
to me like amatoor work"
even an old-timer might
lose his head along with his
nerve seeing he'd just qualified
for the Chair"
eyes, but what about his
gatherin' up a lot of silver
junk like he did-stuff that
would be easy traced if he tried
to fence it and wouldn't be
worth a hell of a lot if he
melted it down. A professional
would have to be hungry or
crazy to go after stuff like
that"
Something in that" said
Bray as though converted by
this argument. Did it ever
occur to you your man might
likewise be a dinge"
Both the plain-clothes men
grinned triumphantly.
1T sure did," stated Cronin
triumphantly. "If, f'rinstance,
the colored girl that works
here had a lover who was on
the prowl and if she give him
the layout Of the house and
fixed a window so he could get
In easy-that's what you mean,
amt it?"
what else?"
Material Witness
1--WE didn't overlook that.
That high yaller dame is al
ready over at the station bein'
held as a material witness and
waitin' for us to give her the
works. She's got good name
with other people she's worked
for and there's no record on
her far as we know yet, but
you can't never tell. And if
this job or any part Of it was
an inside job-well, it'll be just
too bad for that high yaller,
that's all"
Bray nodded approvingly. He
turned to the dark-skinned de-
tective:
"And you - what's your
idea?"
IT want a better chance to
buzz this new-made widow OF
ours than what I've had so
far" said the latter. "She's
down and out now from shock
and all; or if she amt down
and out she's a good actor.
And I want a chance to snoop
around and see if she's ever
been suspected of doin' any
cheatin' on the side"
Cronin made a little queruloIS
sound in his throat.
What if she had been?"
asked Bray.
WELL" said the Italian-look-
ing detective, ION the dead q.t.,
let's all do a. little more sup
posin'. Let's suppose this Mrs.
Holt's got sweetie-that she's
fed up with her hubby and
wants time out for a new book?
Let's suppose her and the
sweetie frame it on him for the
boy friend to come around
playin' boiglar and make q
noise that'll fetch Holt down.
stairs? Wouldn't that maybe
explain why the viSitin' guy is
so quick on the trigger? I
amt sayin' that's the way it
was. I'm only sayin' that's the
way it might have been. So
that's why, soon as the lady is
able to sit UP and talk back,
want another chance at her-a
real chance"
"He's always like that" ex-
planned Cronin. "He don't look
for a niger in the woodpile;
hG looks for a skirt IN the
woodpile.",
"And sometimes he finds it
there" retorted his partner.
even So" said Bray, even
30, you don't want to overlook
any angle"
"You said it," said the second
detective, and his big black
eyes were eager and hot. How
about you buzzin the widow,
too?"
what get, she's in no
shape for that now," demurred
Bray mildly. But while we're
waiting for her to rally
wouldn't mind seeing" he
broke off and glanced about
the room. rs that a picture of
her on the piano."
'That's her" said the black