Criminals -- Fiction; Ex-convicts -- Fiction; Love stories
As a matter of fact Larry's capture, which was as unspectacular as his
escape had been strenuous, was the consequence of no cleverness at
all. Larry had said to Barney Palmer the night before that he knew who
Barney's sucker was; and Barney had passed this information along to
Chief Barlow. “Follow every clue; luck may be with you and one of the
clues may turn up what you want”:--this is in substance an unwritten
rule of routine procedure which effects those magnificent police
solutions which are presented as more mysterious than the original
mystery--for it is well for the public to believe that its police
officers are unfailingly more clever than its criminals. Barlow had
done some routine thinking: if Larry Brainard knew Dick Sherwood was
the sucker, then watching Dick Sherwood might possibly reveal the
whereabouts of Larry Brainard. Barlow had passed this tip along to
Gavegan. Gavegan had grumbled to himself that it was only a thousand to
one shot; but luck had been with him, and his long shot had won.
Miss Sherwood, Hunt behind her, had been drawn by the sound of voices
around to the side of the veranda where stood the four men. “What are
you doing?” she now sharply demanded of Gavegan.
“Don't like to make any unpleasant scene, Miss Sherwood, but I've gotta
tell you that this so-called Brandon is a well-known crook.” Gavegan
enjoyed few things more than astounding people with unpleasant facts.
“His real name is Brainard; he's done time, and now he's wanted by the
New York police for a tough job he pulled.”
“I knew all that long ago,” said Miss Sherwood.
“Eh--what?” stammered Gavegan.
“Mr. Brainard told me all that the first time I saw him.”
“Hello, Gavegan,” said Hunt, stepping forward.
“Well, I'll be--if you ain't that crazy--” Again the ability to express
himself coherently and with restraint failed Gavegan. “If you ain't that
painter that lived down at the Duchess's!”
“Right, Gavegan--as a detective always should be. And Larry Brainard was
then, and is now, my friend.”
Miss Sherwood again spoke up sharply. “Mr. Gavegan--if that is your
name--you will please take those foolish things off Mr. Brainard's
wrists.”
Gavegan had been cheated out of creating a sensation. That discomfiture
perhaps made him even more dogged than he was by nature.
“Sorry, Miss, but he's charged with having committed a crime and is a
fugitive from justice, and I can't.”
“I'll be his security. Take them off.”
“Sorry to refuse you again, Miss. But he's a dangerous man--got away
once before. My orders is to take no risks that'll give him another
chance for a get-away.”
Miss Sherwood turned to Larry. “I'll go into town with you, and so will
Mr. Hunt. I'll see that you get bail and a good lawyer.”
“Thank you, Miss Sherwood,” Larry said. “Gavegan, I guess we're ready to
start.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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