United States or Argentina ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
This was the situation a month before election day when, to oblige his brother-in-law, Wharton was up-town at Delmonico's lunching with Senator Bissell. Down-town at the office, Rumson, the assistant district attorney, was on his way to lunch when the telephone-girl halted him. Her voice was lowered and betrayed almost human interest.
Tell them you're going to Ida Earle's and why tell them you're afraid it's a frame-up, and for them to keep your notes as evidence. And enclose the one from her." Wharton nodded in approval, and, while he wrote, Rumson and the detective planned how, without those inside the road-house being aware of their presence, they might be near it. Kessler's Café lay in the Seventy-ninth Police Precinct.
After Rumson had joined Wharton and Bissell the note arrived. It was brought to the restaurant by a messenger-boy, who said that in answer to a call from a saloon on Sixth Avenue he had received it from a young man in ready-to-wear clothes and a green hat.
That old stone mansion right in the heart of the country folks settlement?" She would drive out in a hired car and dismiss the man. Then she raved around and did so much loud talking to herself, and even screaming, that the whole neighborhood was up in arms. I heard the other day the folks around Rumson had called on the police to stop the nuisance." "No wonder they would," agreed Jane.
But Wharton motioned him back; and when again he turned to look the man still stood where they had parted. Two minutes later an empty taxi-cab came swiftly toward him and, as it passed, the driver lifted his hand from the wheel, and with his thumb motioned behind him. "That's one of the men," said Nolan, "that started with Mr. Rumson and Hewitt from Delmonico's."
Rumson called up that restaurant and had Wharton come to the phone. He asked his chief to wait until a letter he believed to be of great importance was delivered to him. He explained, but, of necessity, somewhat sketchily. "It sounds to me," commented his chief, "like a plot of yours to get a lunch up-town." "Invitation!" cried Rumson. "I'll be with you in ten minutes."
But Wharton motioned him back; and when again he turned to look the man still stood where they had parted. Two minutes later an empty taxi-cab came swiftly toward him and, as it passed, the driver lifted his hand from the wheel and with his thumb motioned behind him. "That's one of the men," said Nolan, "that started with Mr. Rumson and Hewitt from Delmonico's."
The man at the other end of the wire ignored the questions. "Where'll Wharton be for the next twenty minutes?" "If I tell you," parried Rumson, "will you bring the letter at once?" The voice exclaimed indignantly: "Bring nothing! I'll send it by district messenger. You're wasting time trying to reach me. It's the letter you want.
Stand where I can see you from the window. I may want you to carry a message to Mr. Rumson." On foot Wharton walked up the curving driveway, and if from the house his approach was spied upon, there was no evidence. In the second story the blinds were drawn and on the first floor the verandas were empty.
As Wharton's chauffeur he now doubled the parts. "What Nolan testified wouldn't be any help," said Wharton. "They would say it was just a story he invented to save me." "Then square yourself this way," urged Rumson. "Send a note now by hand to Ham Cutler and one to your sister.
Word Of The Day