Part 26 (1/2)

Van Nostrand interrupted at this point.

”Well, Officer 4434, you can have the backing of all the money you need as far as I am concerned. You'll have to come down to my offices some day soon, and we'll work out a plan of getting after these people. Can I do anything more, inspector?”

The official shook his head.

”There's a poor young woman here who is half drugged, and doesn't know who she is,” he began.

”Well, send her to some good private hospital and have her taken care of and send the bill to me,” said Reggie. ”I've got to be getting downtown. Goodbye, Officer Burke, don't forget me.”

”Goodbye--you've been a fine chauffeur and a better detective,” said the young policeman, ”even if you are a millionaire.” And the two young men laughed with an unusual cordiality as they shook hands.

Despite the difference in their stations it was the similarity of red blood in them both which melted away the barriers, and later developed an unconventional and permanent friends.h.i.+p between them.

Burke talked with Henrietta Bailey, the country girl, who sat dejectedly in the station house. She had no plans for the future, having come to the big city to look for a position, trusting in the help of the famous Y.W.C.A. organization, of whose good deeds and protection she had heard so much, even in the little town up state.

”I'll call them up, down at their main offices,” said Bobbie, ”but it's a big society and they have all they can do. Wouldn't you like to meet a nice sweet girl who will take a personal interest in you, and go down there with you herself?”

Henrietta tried to hold back the tears.

”Oh, land sakes,” she began, stammering, ”I ... do ... want to just blubber on somebody's shoulder. I'm skeered of all these New York folks, and I'm so lonesome, Mr. Constable.”

”We'll just cure that, then,” answered Burke. ”I'll introduce you to the very finest girl in the world, and she'll show you that hearts beat as warmly in a big city as they do in a village of two hundred people.”

Bobbie lost no time in telephoning Mary Barton, who was just on the point of leaving Monnarde's candy store.

She came directly uptown to meet the country girl and take her to the modest apartment for the night.

Bobbie devoted the interim to making his report on the unusual circ.u.mstances of his one-man raid ... and dodging the police reporters who were on the scene like hawks as soon as the news had leaked out.

Despite his declaration that the credit should go to the precinct in which the arrests had been made half a dozen photographers, with their black artillery-like cameras had snapped views of the house, and some grotesque portraits of the young officer. Other camera men, with newspaper celerity, had captured the aristocratic features of Reggie Van Nostrand and his racing car, as he sat in it before his Fifth Avenue club. It was such a story that city editors gloated over, and it was to give the embarra.s.sed policeman more trouble than it was worth.

Bobbie's telephone report to Captain Sawyer, explaining his absence from the downtown station house was greeted with commendation.

”That's all right, Burke, go as far as you like. A few more cases like that and you'll be on the honor list for the Police Parade Day. Clean it up as soon as you can,” retorted his superior.

When Mary took charge of Henrietta Bailey, the hapless girl felt as though life were again worth living. After a good cry in the matron's room, she was bundled up, her rattan suitcase and the weather-beaten band boxes were carried over to the Barton home.

”I don't know whether you had better say anything about this Baxter to Lorna or not,” said Bobbie, as he stood outside the house, to start on his way downtown. ”It's a horrible affair, and her escape from the man's clutches was a close one.”

”She's cured now, however,” stoutly declared Mary. ”I have no fears for Lorna.”

”Then do as you think best. I'll see you to-morrow afternoon, there at the store, and you can take supper downtown with me if you would like.

If there is any way I can help about this girl let me know.”

They separated, and Mary took her guest upstairs.

Her father was greatly excited for he had just put the finis.h.i.+ng touches on his dictagraph-recorder. His mind was so over-wrought with his work that Mary thought it better not to tell him of the exciting afternoon until later. She simply introduced Henrietta as a friend from the country who was going to spend the night. Lorna was courteous enough to the newcomer, but seemed abstracted and dreamy. She neglected the little household duties, making the burden harder for Mary. Henrietta's rustic training, however, a.s.serted itself, and she gladly took a hand in the preparation of the evening meal.

”I've a novel I want to finish reading, Mary,” said her sister, ”and if you don't mind I'm going to do it. You and Miss Bailey don't need me.

I'll go into our room until supper is ready.”