24 chapters
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24 chapters
CHAPTER I. WHEN THREE IS A MYSTERY
CHAPTER I. WHEN THREE IS A MYSTERY
“Mr. Shirley is waiting for you in the grill-room, sir. Just step this way, sir, and down the stairs.” The large man awkwardly followed the servant to the cosey grill-room on the lower floor of the club house. He felt that every man of the little groups about the Flemish tables must be saying: “What's he doing here?” “I wish Monty Shirley would meet me once in a while in the back room of a ginmill, where I'd feel comfortable,” muttered the unhappy visitor. “This joint is too classy. But that's h
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CHAPTER II. THE FLEETING PROMPTER
CHAPTER II. THE FLEETING PROMPTER
Monty's puzzled smile was in no wise reciprocated by the Captain, whose red face evidenced a growing resentment. He began a tirade, but a wink from the club man warned him. Shirley replaced the receiver, and the regular attendant resumed his place at the switchboard. The lad was curious at the unusual ability of the wealthy Mr. Shirley to handle the bewildering maze of telephone attachments. Monty explained, as he turned to go upstairs. “Son, that was one of my smart friends trying to play a pra
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CHAPTER III. THE INNOCENT BYSTANDER
CHAPTER III. THE INNOCENT BYSTANDER
“Well, Mr. Shirley, your coming here was a Godsend! I don't know what to do now. The newspapers will get this surely. I depended on Cronin: he must have been drinking.” Shirley shook his head, as he explained, “I know Cronin's reputation, for I was a police reporter. He is a sterling man. There's foul work here which extends beyond your father's case. But we are wasting time. Why don't you introduce me to your physician? Just tell him about Cronin, and that you have confided in me completely.” V
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CHAPTER IV. A SCIENTIFIC NOVELTY
CHAPTER IV. A SCIENTIFIC NOVELTY
In a private ward room at Bellevue Hospital, Captain Cronin was just returning to memory of himself and things that had been. Shirley arrived at his cot-side as he was being propped up more comfortably. The older man's face broke into game smiles, as the criminologist took the chair provided by the pretty nurse. “Thanks, I'll have a little chat with my friend, if you don't think it will do him any harm.” “He is better now, sir. We feared he was fatally injured when they brought him in. I'll be o
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CHAPTER V. THE MISBEHAVIOR OF THE 'PHONE
CHAPTER V. THE MISBEHAVIOR OF THE 'PHONE
Still befuddled by the unusual events of the day, Howard Van Cleft was unable to delight in a theoretical discovery. Personal fear began to manifest itself. “Mr. Shirley, you're going at this too strong. We know the guilty party—this miserable girl in the machine. We want to hush it up and let things go at that.” “We're hushing it, aren't we?” demanded Shirley, as he placed the record in the grip. “Don't you see the wisdom of knowing who may systematically blackmail you after secrecy is obtained
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CHAPTER VI. AN EXPERIMENT WITH THE “MOVIES”
CHAPTER VI. AN EXPERIMENT WITH THE “MOVIES”
The cross-examination of Polly Marion resulted in little advantage. She had known of the sudden departure of two other songbirds, well equipped with funds for the land of Somewhere Else. Their absence had been the subject of some quiet jesting among the dragon flies who flitted over the pond of pleasure. A suggestion, from some unrecalled source, that their disappearance had been connected with the deaths of the two aged suitors was revitalized in her memory by the words of the elderly detective
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CHAPTER VII. ENTER A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
CHAPTER VII. ENTER A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
A reddening zone in the East silhouetted the serrated line of the distant elevated structure, as Shirley walked along the gray street, his thoughts busy with the possibilities of applying his new certainty. He had reached Sixth Avenue, and was just passing one of the elevated pillars when a black touring car crept up behind him. The clanging bell and the grinding motors of an early surface car drowned the sound of the automobile in his rear. Suddenly the big machine sprang forward at highest spe
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CHAPTER VIII. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK
CHAPTER VIII. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK
“Dick, you can help me further, with your dramatic knowledge. I feel in duty bound to tell Miss Marigold that she is risking her life, if she takes up this task.” Instead of hesitancy, which Shirley half expected, the girl's face flushed with quickened interest, and her eyes sparkled with enjoyment as he unfolded the situation. At the mention of Grimsby, Holloway grunted with disgust—it may have been a variety of professional jealousy. Who knows? However, the problem fascinated the mysterious yo
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CHAPTER IX. IN THE GARDEN OF TEMPTATION
CHAPTER IX. IN THE GARDEN OF TEMPTATION
Their destination, one of the score of tango tea-rooms which had sprung to mushroom popularity within the year, was soon reached. Leaning heavily upon his stick, limping like his aged model, and spluttering impatiently, Shirley was assisted by the uniformed door man into the lobby. Helene followed meekly. Four hat boys from the check-room made the conventional scramble for his greatcoat, hat and stick, nearly upsetting him in their eagerness. Then Shirley led the way into the half light of the t
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CHAPTER X. WHEN IT'S DARK IN THE PARK
CHAPTER X. WHEN IT'S DARK IN THE PARK
At the entrance of the restaurant the starter tooted his shrill whistle, and a driver began to crank his automobile in the waiting line of cars. According to the rules of the taxi stands he was next in order. But, as is frequently the custom in the hotly contested district of “good fares” another car “cut in” from across the street. This taxi swung quickly around and drew up before the waiting criminologist. Grunting and mumbling, as though still deep in his cups, Monty allowed himself to be hal
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CHAPTER XI. A TURN IN THE TRAIL
CHAPTER XI. A TURN IN THE TRAIL
Helene was still asleep when Shirley stopped the engine of the taxi before a stately Colonial mansion seated back among the pines of a beautiful Long Island estate. They had been driving for more than an hour. The girl stirred languorously as he strove to awaken her. She murmured drowsily: “No, Jack, dear. Emphatically no. Let's not talk about it any more, dear boy.” “Who can Jack be?” and a surprising pang shot through Montague Shirley's heart. “Jack, dear! Well, and what's it my business. She
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CHAPTER XII. THE HAND OF THE VOICE
CHAPTER XII. THE HAND OF THE VOICE
It took stoicism to the Nth degree for Shirley to respond to the early telephone call next morning, from the clerk of the club. A few minutes of violent exercise, in the hand ball court, the plunge, a short swim in the natatorium and a rub down from the Swedish masseur, however, brought him around to the mood for another adventure. Sending for the racing car he began the round-up of details. There was, first of all, Captain Cronin to be visited in Bellevue. Here he was agreeably surprised to fin
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CHAPTER XIII. THE SPIDER'S WEB
CHAPTER XIII. THE SPIDER'S WEB
The setting was a bleak and musty cellar, beneath an old stable of dingy, brick construction. The building had been modernized to the extent of one single decoration on the street front, an electric sign: “Garage.” On the floor, level with the sidewalk, stood half a dozen automobiles of varied manufacture and age. Near the wide swinging doors of oak, stood a big, black limousine. Two taxicabs of the usual appearance occupied the space next to this, while a handsome machine faced them on the oppo
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CHAPTER XIV. A PILGRIMAGE INTO FRIVOLITY
CHAPTER XIV. A PILGRIMAGE INTO FRIVOLITY
Rather early, again, for the usual throng, they were able to choose their position to their liking: to-day, it was in the center of the big room, close by the space cleared for the dancing. Gradually the tables were occupied, apparently by the identical people of the afternoon before, so marked is the peculiar character of the dance-mad individuality. To-day he varied his menu with a mild order of cocktails—for now he was not emulating the Epicurean record of the bibulous Grimsby. They observed
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CHAPTER XV. CONCERNING HELENE'S FINESSE
CHAPTER XV. CONCERNING HELENE'S FINESSE
Shirley endured a miserable three hours, in his attempts to locate the girl. She had not returned to the Hotel California, and he returned to the club in moody reflection. It was beginning to snow, and the ground was soon covered with a thin coat of white, through which he noticed his footprints stenciled against the black of the wet pavement. He wasted a dozen matches in the freshening wind, as he tried to light a cigarette. He stepped into a doorway on the Avenue to avail himself of its shelte
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CHAPTER XVI. THE STRANGE AND SURPRISING WARREN
CHAPTER XVI. THE STRANGE AND SURPRISING WARREN
The volume was a loose-leaf diary, with each page dated, and of letter size. It covered more than the current year, however, running back for nearly eighteen months. It was as scrupulously edited as a lawyer's engagement book, and curiously enough it was entirely written in typewriting! Most surprising of all, however, was the curious code in which the entire matter was transcribed,—the most unusual one which Shirley had ever read. Here was the first page to which he opened, letter for letter an
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CHAPTER XVII. IN WHICH SHIRLEY SURPRISES HIMSELF
CHAPTER XVII. IN WHICH SHIRLEY SURPRISES HIMSELF
They reached the hotel without untoward adventure. “Perhaps we might find a little corner in that dining-room I saw this afternoon, with an obliging waiter to bring us something to eat. Shall we try? I need a lot of coffee, for I am going down to the dock of the Yacht Club to await developments.” “You big silly boy,” she cautioned, with a maternal note in her voice which was very sweet to bachelor ears from such a maiden mouth, “you must not let Nature snap. You have a wonderful physique but you
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CHAPTER XVIII. ON THE RISING TIDE
CHAPTER XVIII. ON THE RISING TIDE
A hurried message to the Holland Agency brought four plain clothes men from the private reserve, under the leadership of superintendent Cleary. Monty met them at the doorway of the club house, wearing a rough and tumble suit. They sped downtown, toward the East River, the criminologist on the seat where he could direct the driver. At Twenty-sixth Street, near the docks, they dismounted and Shirley gave his directions to the detectives. “I want you to slide along these doorways, working yourselve
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CHAPTER XIX. AN EXPEDITION UNDERGROUND
CHAPTER XIX. AN EXPEDITION UNDERGROUND
The criminologist picked his way through the swarming vehicles which swung up and down Broadway, across to Seventh Avenue, where he turned into a plumber's shop. This fellow had handled small jobs on Shirley's extensive real estate holdings, and he was naturally delighted to do a favor in the hope of obtaining new work. “Mike, I want to borrow an old pair of overalls, a jumper and one of those blue caps hanging up on your wall. And I need some plumbers' tools, as well, for a little joke I am to
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CHAPTER XX. A DOUBLE ON THE TRAIL
CHAPTER XX. A DOUBLE ON THE TRAIL
Shirley walked up to the Hotel California, at the door of which he met Warren and Taylor just leaving. They looked somewhat embarrassed but his manner was cordiality itself. “Sorry you are going. I was just stepping up to see Miss Marigold. Won't you come back?” His invitation was refused. Then Shirley urged Warren to be his guest at the club for dinner that evening. This was accepted with a surprising alacrity. So, he left them, and was soon talking with Helene. “You missed a curious little soc
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CHAPTER XXI. A BURGLARY FOR JUSTICE
CHAPTER XXI. A BURGLARY FOR JUSTICE
Shirley rose, and once more applied that gridiron-trained boot of his: this time to the lock of the door. Two doses resulted in a complete cure for its obstinacy. As he rushed into the room, he saw a figure swing out of the window on a dangling rope. He hesitated—the desire to chase this intruder to the roof of the club struggled with his duty to the unfortunate Jap, who lay on the floor, where he was being garroted by a burly ruffian in a chauffeur's habiliments. He sprang toward his little ass
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CHAPTER XXII. IN THE DOUBLE TRAP
CHAPTER XXII. IN THE DOUBLE TRAP
Eternity had passed, the Judgment Day had been overlooked and new aeons had gone their way, it seemed to the criminologist, when the voice was audible again. “Oh, all right. I just drew it down from the top. Tell me about your doping. Who was the devil?” He had been unobserved. By the grace of the fates, Warren's sudden appearance had given him a better chance to hear their secrets, and Taylor's own abstraction had dissipated any interest in the world beyond the window. Again he lifted himself t
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CHAPTER XXIII. CAPTURED AND THEN
CHAPTER XXIII. CAPTURED AND THEN
Warren's white lips were moving in perfect synchronism, as he counted the seconds and ticks of the clock. Shirley, never so acute, cudgeled his mind for some devise by which he might overcame the other. It was hopeless. At last, just as he knew the inevitable second was almost completed, a faint rustling came from the other side of the iron door. Warren's face brightened with hope. With a nerve-racking rasp, the iron bar on the other side was raised: it was a torturing delay as the two waited! T
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CHAPTER XXIV. CONCLUSION
CHAPTER XXIV. CONCLUSION
Shirley made some investigations in a private reading room of the Public Library: there was much good treasure there, not salable over the counter of a grocery store, mayhap, but unusually valuable in the high grade work which was his specialty. In an old volume enumerating the noble families of Austro-Hungary he found two distinguished lines, “Laschlas” and “Rozi.” From the library he went to a cable office where he sent a message to the chief of police of Budapesth inquiring about the remainin
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