Part 19 (1/2)

CHAPTER XII

A DOUBLE SHADOW

This was the extent of Dennison's knowledge except the detail he called after them as they were leaving the room a little later.

”I say,” he cried, rising in sudden recollection, ”do you know any sort of a place that goes by the name of 'Gaffney's'?”

”No,” replied the investigator over his shoulder. ”Why?”

”I think that's where Burton was to meet the party--the one I just mentioned, you know. It just came to me.”

On the street the big athlete said to Ashton-Kirk:

”Burton knew Big Slim, and had a little job framed up with him, eh?

Well, that knocks me over, for sure.”

”It's odd,” said Ashton-Kirk, ”how things seem to fall into place.”

Scanlon saw the light of speculation in the singular eyes, but made no comment. A little later the investigator went on: ”That you should have this rather extraordinary experience of yours with Big Slim, and now--”

He paused, deep in thought; and as he did not resume, Bat said:

”Nora knows this crook; now we find that the Bounder knew him too; and they both have had dealings of some sort with him.”

But Ashton-Kirk was deep in thought, and made no reply. They continued to walk on, the squares lengthening into miles; on the outskirts he suddenly stopped.

”h.e.l.lo!” said he, looking about, rather surprisedly. ”We're here, are we?”

”I thought I wouldn't disturb you, seeing that you seemed to be thras.h.i.+ng it out,” said Scanlon.

The criminologist looked at his watch.

”There's a subway station only a little way from here,” said he. ”Let's get back. There's one or two things I want to do.”

They boarded the train and as they neared the middle of the city the investigator said:

”I get off at the next station. If you don't mind, look up Big Slim once again and see what more you can learn from him. If there is anything, call me at eleven to-morrow; if I'm not there, leave word where you can be reached by wire.”

”Right,” said Mr. Scanlon.

Ashton-Kirk dropped off at the next station and vanished in the crowd; Bat held his place for several stations further; then he, too, alighted. Walking a few blocks, he came to the meaner sections; the buildings looked huddled and slovenly; dirty alleys ran between them; the smells were many and offensive. Leisurely he walked along a street crowded with low auction rooms, cheap variety places and establishments which provided a curious medley of food which a patron might consume while he stood up and listened to the nerve-tearing din of an automatic piano.

Away amidst a horde of other signs, the big athlete noted one bearing the Swiss coat of arms.

”Friend Bohlmier's hotel,” Bat said to himself. ”I may as well stop in and look around. Maybe the slim one is stirring.”

The hotel, now that he saw it in daylight, was rather neat looking outside; the window gla.s.s shone; there was clean paint upon the doors and other woodwork; through the windows of the office plants were to be seen, growing greenly, in pots. The building was upon a corner; just around this, upon a rather more quiet street than the main one, was the door at which Nora's cab had stood the night before. And as Bat slowly took in the sinister aspects of the neighborhood, he marveled at what he had seen.

”A girl like Nora coming alone to a place like this in the night, and in this section of the city!” he exclaimed, mentally. ”It's got me winging, I'll admit that.”