The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-03-30
RED HERRING By octavus Roy Cohen
"That1l be a Job for Old sleuth on

"Thatu be a Job for Old Sleuth on
The back seat yonder," he commented.
Imagine the convenience-having a
member Of the homicide squad along
just as a guy gets bumped off"
Danny Reardon, young and blond
and grinning, leaned forward and
touched the drivers shoulder.
"On your way, Teller, on your way.
And make it snappy."
prosperity has come again." observ-
ed h talkative Carney as he shipped
a bit of paint from his left front fender
and Slowed violently across the bow of
an onrushing truck. Lots Of nice,
c~ongenial work for young and enter
prising detectives. How long will it
take you to solve this thing, Danny?"
"Just a few minutes, Bill. If it's
very complicated, you and George will
have time to guzzle a bit Of java. Lucky
Tor you birds I was in this a other
wise you'd have had to ask a copper
where the Peoples Bank buildin' was"
"Okay, commander. When I was your
age I knew all the answers, too." He
nudged his front seat companion.
Don't you feel all swelled up, George
-ridin' with young Sherlock"
"Yeh!" George Kester was not over
ly conversational. "And if he'd only
tell me who bumped off Taylor Grarby
my evening would be practically per-
feet"
Danny Reardon winced-ever so
slightly. II got a lead on that case"
he said seriously. Il was telin' the
inspector this afternoon"
And did he promote you?"
Not just then he didn't. AS a mat
ter of fact" and the young man
laughed" He said I was crazy as
hell"
HE was right" grunted Bill Carney
as he jerked the a up to the curb
with a screeching of brakes. Here we
are, cunnel. Strut your stuff, me lad"
Danny shouldered his way through a
morbid and excited crowd which jam
med the onyx and marble lobby of the
big building. He spoke briefly to the
patrolman on duty and accompanied by
Carney and Kester entered an elevator
and instructed the pop-eyed colored
operator to take him to the ninth floor.
Another patrolman was on duty
there. I'm yonder, Danny. Wallace
McDougal is the guy, and he's likely
to 60 bye-bye any minute"
who's with him?"
Rafferty, and the ambulance sur
geon. They've got the sick wagon
backed up against the service entrance
downstairs"
Danny entered the office, on the door
of which was a simple sign: wallace
McDougal- Business Broker" The
ambulance surgeon stepped forward.
Headquarters" he inquired.
Reardon showed his shield.
HE wants to talk to you. Better
make it quick"
The dying man gestured family to-
ward the others, and, at a word from
Danny, Kester, Carney, and the sur
geon stepped into the hall. The blond
young detective bent his head close
to the lips of the man on the floor.
The man spoke with difficulty-slow-
ly, painfully. Danny nodded OCCASION
ally; then rose and whipped open the
door.
"City hospital" he ordered. He
seems to be in a pretty bad way"
McDougal died in the ambulance. The
girl at the hospital switchboard-quite
u~nperturbed by tragedy-cast her eyes
at the three policemen.
(Which one of you is named Rear
don?"
"Me," said Danny. I'm practically
sure of it."
Call Inspector Garrett. He's been
giving me a headache answering his
rings"
Inspector Garrett spoke crisply. did
McDougal croak, Danny?"
Entirely. But I got news for YOU"
Bring it here-quick."
II better make a pinch first. I know
who"
Under your hat, lad. Not a word to
anybody until you've seen me. And step
on it,"
Considerably annoyed. Reardon obey
ed his chief. He found Garrett, broad
and swarthy, pacing the floor.
who's on duty at McDougal's Of
flee, Danny?"
Rafferty,"
did you give him any orders?"
"Told him to stay in and keep every
body else out"
"Will he keep his mouth. shut?"
He will. He's twin brother to a
clam"
Good work." Garrett rubbed the
palms of his thick, hairy hands togeth-
er. Swell mystery, this"
Danny Reardon's boyish blue eyes
were shining.
Wrong, Inspector. 1t amt any mys-
terry. McDougal gave me the lowdown
just before he passed out. I know who
killed him and why. I'll pick the guy
up pronto-"
you'll do nothing Of the kind" snap
ped the inspector.
"Why not?"
because this is a mystery, see! A
big, beautiful mystery-which we amt
gonna solve for a couple of weeks"
A.