Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

378 lence, had been dismissed, and that he had been engaged. He requested the key that he might secure the can of heavy grease, and he returned the key within one minute, sefior. Yetsee! Because the fault is mine, let what he has stolen be taken from my wage, senor, for I see—”’ “Oh, shut up!’ Hemmett said wearily. The escape could have been a little simpler, perhaps, had William Jones paused to remove the garage lock and drop it into his pocket as he entered! William Jones’s own man had had his instructions and had executed them with neatness and despatch; it seemed almost as if William Jones had expected to find himself locked in the garage and issued orders accordingly ahead of time! But whether that was the case or the man had simply been waiting, had seen his employer imprisoned, and had taken the quickest means of getting him out again, Jones was gone! “And the point of it is just this,’” Hemmett said bitterly as he picked up his telephone in the library: “‘ Jones got loose because he, or his man, acted quick, Steve! That seems to be the key- note of all his performances—to move like lightning and hang trying to conceal anything! ‘Why, all that so-called engine works property was bought in the open—and nobody thought anything of it! And the Guanama navy bills were jammed through the senate in the open—and no- body thought anything of it! And now his agent walks straight into my kitchen and demands the garage key and gets it— because Ramon couldn’t see anything un- usual in the stunt, and— Give me police headquarters!’’ Hemmett wound up dis- gustedly. He waited, tapping his foot and pur- posely avoiding the rather sheepish smile which came to Girton’s face as he pon- dered the latest flitting of Jones. He snapped: ‘Headquarters? Give me Domez, the chief of detectives! Hello! Domez? This is Mr. Hemmett.” THE ARGOSY. ‘“ Ah! The pleasure, sefor, to serve one so august!” floated over the wire. “Cut the joy stuff!” retorted Hem- mett. ‘“ Domez, there’s a man in town named William Jones—a man who has the whole third floor of the new hotel and drives around town in a white auto- mobile. You know him, eh? Well, I’M glad of it. Catch him and bring him to me!” “ But—but the charge?” Domez stam- mered. ° “Tl attend to the charge, and I'll protect you if he makes trouble,”’ said the American. ‘“ Don’t worry about that part of it. Get him!” “ But it is told, senor, that the Senor Jones is a man of great wealth and in- fluence,” the chief replied dubiously. ‘‘ It is related—”’ ‘“So am I a man of great wealth and influence!” barked Mr. Hemmett bitter- ly. ‘I had enough of both to get you your present job, Domez, and I’ve enough of both left to take it away from you. Not that I’m asking you to do anything crooked, you understand. If you round up Jones, Guanama ’ll be handing you medals a year from now. But get him!” “Tf it be possible, senor!’? Domez agreed somewhat faintly—and hung up! It was the last that caused Hemmett to curse aloud, for, like many other re- cent happening, that trick of hanging up the receiver was almost beyond belief. Domez, these many years, had been the soul of respect, not to say adoration! Domez, at the slightest word of either Girton or Hemmett, had been in the habit of leaping at the task of the moment—and now, without a string of compliments and assurances, without so much as an apology, Domez had cut off the conversation! . “Tf it didn’t seem so confounded silly, I’d say that Domez himself was in Jones’s pay!’ Mr. Hemmett announced. Followed the day-long lull. They were at liberty, if they chose, to tear about town in search of Jones themselves. They were at liberty to go comicloool C©