The Argosy for May — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

NOT FOR SALE. cells to engage its inmate in welcome conversation. This last afternoon of his stay, how- ever, he had little to say to any of his fellow prisoners, being entirely engaged in a consideration of the problem which he had set for himself with Muriel. Up and down the restricted space he paced accordingly, his eyes bent upon the floor, his hands clasped meditatively behind his , back ; but the harder he thought, andthe more he cudgeled his brains, the farther away seemedsany plan which appealed to him as at all feasible. At last, out of his very desperation, a whimsical idea suggested itself. Why not take counsel of one of these crimi- nals by whom he was surrounded? Their lives were spent in the continual effort to evade detection and pursuit. Who, then, more likely to comprehend the wiles and feints to which Von Altdorff would resort, and how best to circumvent them? Was it not an old axiom, “Set a rogue to catch a rogue’’? The more he dwelt upon the notion the more sensible did it appear; so he finally decided to try it, and after men- tally running over in his mind the vari- ous prisoners, to determine which one most closely resembled Von Altdorff in type, he selected as his mentor a hard- ened ruffian, known to local fame as Der Schnable, from the size of his nose. Der Schnable was a churlish, scowling blackguard, who, according to the police, stood ready to commit any crime for the sake of a few florins, and who, in fact, had been charged at various times with about every offense in the calendar; but so wily had he proven himself in his ‘evil doing, and so well did he recognize the advisability of keeping a still tongue in his head, that often as he had been ar- rested he had never yet suffered a con- viction. He was in jail now upon suspicion of complicity in a particularly flagrant high- way robbery, which had taken place on one of the main avenues a few evenings before; but secure in the knowledge that the authorities had no real proof against him, he had resisted all attempts to ex-. tort a confession from him in the Aus- trian equivalent for the “third degree,” and now, still wrapped in his mantle of 8 A 305 disdainful silence, was serenely awaiting his inevitable release. Constantly on guard, he was never known to speak to the keepers or, indeed, to any of his fellow prisoners, save in an occasional growling monosyllable; but no one could resist \Caxton’s blithe face and engaging greeting, and, to the sur- prise of the entire prison, Der Schnable had the day before returned a gruff “ Good morning ” to the American’s salu- tation. With this as an entering wedge, and the exehange of cigarette papers and tobacco to facilitate friendly feelings, Caxton bravely assaulted the fellow’s im- penetrable reserve and, before they part- ed, actually led him into quite a little chat—mainly one-sided, it is true, but nevertheless responded to with a certain hesitating amiability. Only indifferent subjects had been touched upon then, of course, and whether the man would discuss questions of a professional character was. very problematic. Still, Caxton told himself that he could but try, and he was certain that if Der Schnable would consent to openup, a very mine of criminal strategy would be exposed to him. He had, too, one very strong point of vantage ; for he had-learned in the ‘pre- vious interview that the rascal was very curlous about America, having a more or-—~ less well-defined idea of, emigrating thither, in order, as he said, to escape the persecution of the police. Therefore, in accosting him again, ‘Caxton led the talk diplomatically to his native land, and dilated enthusiastically upon the success which might await an ambitious foreigner there, especially if backed up by so rich and influential a personage as himself. “Tll have a line of immigration offi- cers stretched out clear across New York Bay to intercept him, if he ever ventures to start,” he muttered under his breath ; “but, Heaven forgive me, I’ve got to pretend now that we would regard him as an original prize package.” ‘Why, by Jove!”’ he exclaimed aloud, ‘““T wouldn’t be surprised, old. man, to see you on the New York police force within a month or two after you land. Wouldn’t that be a jolt to these folks over here that have been running you MICLOOOKS * (C@ ~~ ~