A Broken Bond; Or, The Man Without MoralsCarter, Nicholas (House name)
General
A Broken Bond; Or, The Man Without Morals
Carter, Nicholas (House name)
Detective and mystery stories; Dime novels; Popular literature
Stone had taken the advice, and started off on foot. After lingering at
the door for a few minutes, the specialist closed it and disappeared
into the house. Very shortly the lights went out, and he reappeared on
the steps.
Seemingly, he, too, was going for a stroll, although it was nearly four
o’clock in the morning by that time.
Curiously enough, Follansbee headed in the same direction which Stone
had taken, and, more curious still, a slouching figure emerged from
an areaway, crossed the street, and flitted along behind the head
physician of St. Swithin’s.
The night had been full enough, but it looked as if other things were
still to be crammed into it.
CHAPTER XXIX.
A STRANGE DEVELOPMENT.
Doctor Stephen Follansbee walked along at a slow pace, but his
movements were not characteristic. His hands were not folded behind
him, and his head was erect, as if he were peering into the distance in
front, instead of casting his eyes on the ground as he usually did.
He had walked down Amsterdam Avenue for several blocks when a faint
monosyllable issued from his lips.
“Ah!” he murmured, and sightly quickened his pace.
The young man who was keeping him in sight from the other side of the
street—and who was evidently the same one who had opened the limousine
door some time earlier—could not hear the ejaculation, but he noted the
quickened steps and glanced ahead in search of a reason.
Half a block beyond was a little group of men gathered on the sidewalk.
When Follansbee approached, he found that it consisted of a couple of
policemen, and the driver of a taxicab was bending over the figure of a
tall man lying prone on the sidewalk. The physician had no need to do
more than glance at the figure, for, as the policeman lifted the body,
the rigid features of James Stone were revealed.
Clearing his throat, Follansbee stepped forward. “What’s the trouble,
officer?” he asked. “Has there been any accident?”
One of the men in uniform turned and looked at Follansbee in a
questioning way.
“I’m Doctor Stephen Follansbee, of St. Swithin’s Hospital,” the
specialist went on. “Here’s my card. If I can help you in any way, I
shall be only too glad to do so.”
The patrolman took the card and glanced at it in the light of a near-by
street lamp. When he saw the name and the string of letters after it,
his attitude instantly changed to one of great respect. It was a name
to conjure with in New York City.
“It’s lucky you happened along, Doctor Follansbee,” the spokesman
declared, making way for the newcomer, who stooped and seemed to make
an examination.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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