In the Dead of NightMcIntyre, John T. (John Thomas)
General
In the Dead of Night
McIntyre, John T. (John Thomas)
Mystery fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
STEELE KENYON placed his stick under his arm, and proceeded to draw on
his gloves.
“Quite an interesting night,” he said, coolly. “I had no idea that
there was so much gratis entertainment in New York. It is really
hospitable. Here a lonely stranger arrives in town; and immediately he
is taken in hand and provided with diversion of an absolutely unique
character. The thing is an inspiration.”
He walked down the steps, and stood by the railing that ran along the
front, gazing up at the building.
“At some future time,” he murmured, “I might have a desire to know just
where to find this abode of marvels. The number is ninety-eight, and
the street,” looking across the way at a corner light, “is Selden’s
Square.”
He made a note of both. The arc lamps hissed and clicked in the
silence; from away to the west came the throb of Broadway; the badly
blended voices of some belated roisterers rose in quavering dissonance;
the strip of sky that showed between the roof tops was black and
starless.
“It was just about the top step, I fancy,” said Kenyon, “that the man
from Butte was received so warmly.”
As he spoke a man appeared, apparently, from the shadows at his feet.
With a sharp side-drive of the elbow Kenyon landed him heavily against
the railing; then he stood calmly posed before him ready for the next
move.
The man pulled himself together and chuckled.
“You’ve got the punch with you, all right, pal,” remarked he. “But
don’t cut it loose on my account. I’m not dealing with you on those
lines.”
“Then you should change your style of dawning on the scene,” observed
Kenyon, dryly. “It’s the sort of thing that’s calculated to get you
into several varieties of trouble; for from a short distance it has
rather a rugged look. But now that you are here, what _do_ you want?”
“I want to make my get-away in a hurry,” returned the man. “But first
I’d like to say that it’s the ‘Far East’ for a guy like you. Do you get
me?”
And with that he turned and made softly away, clinging to the shadows,
and at last disappearing around a corner.
“The motions of a panther and the manners of a yeggman,” spoke Kenyon.
“A most undesirable person to come upon, unprepared, I should say.”
He turned and made his way westward, deep in thought. He walked with
bent head, and did not notice a patrolman well along in the block who
looked at him searchingly and suspiciously; but he was allowed to pass
without interference.
A bell from a neighboring tower solemnly boomed two as he turned into
Fifth Avenue and made his way down town. The night had turned chill and
damp; he turned up the collar of his overcoat with a shiver and plunged
his hands into the wide pockets. As he strode along he drew deeply at
the cigar which he had lighted, until the end glowed redly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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