Aaron Rodd, DivinerOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
Aaron Rodd, Diviner
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Detective and mystery stories, English; English fiction -- 20th century
They all crowded into the vehicle. In a few minutes they were at the
café. The poet gave a little sigh of relief as he peered eagerly
around. Somehow or other, he felt that this was his own special
adventure and that the onus of its success rested upon him. At a table
a little way in the room the Dutchman was seated, with a huge tumbler
of what seemed to be brandy and water in front of him. He was in the
act of striking a match to light a cigar which was already in the
corner of his mouth. Suddenly his eyes fell upon the poet. A vague
sense of recognition, coupled with a premonition of danger, seemed to
oppress him. His frame seemed to grow tenser. Even underneath his
clothes one could fancy that his muscles were stiffening. He watched
the four men approach, and those few of the neighbouring loungers who
chanced to be looking that way, held their breaths. The atmosphere
around seemed to have become electric. The inspector stood by the
Dutchman's table. Although he was not in uniform, his official bearing
was unmistakable.
"I want you, my man," he said. "You must come with me to the
police-station."
"Why?"
"I am acting under special orders," the inspector told him. "I can
satisfy you as to my authority. The thing is, are you coming quietly?"
Apparently the Dutchman was not, for pandemonium ensued. The inspector
was no light-weight and he was on guard, but his adversary's rush was
irresistible. He went crashing over against an opposite table and the
Dutchman's left fist sent the second man prostrate. The inspector,
however, was not yet done for, and Aaron Rodd and Cresswell suddenly
sprang simultaneously into the fray. Men and women leapt from their
tables. There were shrieks, a crash of breaking glass. The policeman,
who had been knocked down, staggered to his knees and blew his whistle
furiously. The Dutchman, kicking, shaking, even trying to bite the
poet's fingers, which had somehow seized his throat, dragged his
assailants yard by yard towards the door. The whole place was in an
uproar. Suddenly the swing-doors were pushed open. Two uniformed
constables hurried in. Even then the Dutchman did not abandon the
struggle. He wrenched himself almost free from the three men who had
momentarily relaxed their hold, dealt the leading constable a terrific
blow, which only just missed the side of his head, and knocked his
helmet into pulp. That, however, was the end. The other constable was
a powerful fellow and within thirty seconds the Dutchman was
handcuffed. There was a crowd now upon the pavement. The Dutchman,
his face covered with blood and his eyes glaring like the eyes of a
wild animal, was bustled into a taxi. Aaron and the poet were left
behind. They were neither of them much the worse for the struggle, but
Aaron's collar was torn to pieces and the poet's coat had been ripped
down one side. A waiter was hovering around them admiringly.
"Bring you something to drink, gentlemen?" he suggested.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account