The Riddle and the Ring; or, Won by NerveMacLaren, Gordon
General
The Riddle and the Ring; or, Won by Nerve
MacLaren, Gordon
Adventure stories; Detective and mystery stories; Dime novels; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
As his cognomen indicated, Bradley was short and slim and
boyish-looking. He had fresh, rosy cheeks and innocent, bland blue
eyes, which reminded one vaguely of cherubs and better worlds than this.
In reality he was as sophisticated a little chap as had ever made the
lives of New Haven professors miserable; and he had a command of
language which, during his two years of "coxing" on the varsity shell,
had caused the hair of even those hardened athletes to stand on end. To
the harassed Hamersley his appearance at that particular moment seemed
like a direct dispensation of Providence.
"Shrimp!" he spluttered, clutching the diminutive chap by the shoulders,
"there’s a fellow going up the avenue there—short, slim, dark clothes
and brown felt hat. He’s a detective, after Barry Lawrence. I’ve got
to know where he goes. For the love of Mike, follow him and tell me
where he lands! I’ll be at the club. Be quick, now, or you’ll miss
him!"
The single, searching glance Bradley cast at his friend’s face convinced
him that this was no joke, and without a question he snapped back:
"Right. I’m on." And he hustled off up the street.
Jock watched him anxiously as he scurried away, and presently, when
pursuer and pursued were lost to sight, the big chap sighed and turned
back in the direction from which he had come.
"He’ll catch the dope if it’s a possible thing," he muttered. "Hang it
all! I wish Barry were here."
He was puzzled to learn, on reaching the club, that Lawrence had phoned
during his absence and left an urgent message that he was not to leave
the building until he heard again from the Harvard man. Of what it
could mean Hamersley had no idea, unless Barry had become wise to the
situation in some way and was also following up a clew.
At all events, there seemed nothing else for him to do but wait; and for
nearly an hour he performed that difficult and trying duty in a manner
which nearly drove the other club members to murder.
Apparently unable to keep still, he tramped back and forth through the
rooms on the lower floor with a frowning countenance. He was deaf to
the gibes and jokes hurled after him, oblivious to remarks and questions
from his friends, heedless to everything save the matter which filled
his mind so exclusively. Had he not been so universally known and liked
by almost all the members, there is no telling what might have happened.
As it was, when Shrimp Bradley appeared about a quarter past eight, and
Jock made a rush for him which compared favorably with some of his best
efforts on the gridiron, there was a general sigh of thankfulness that
something had at length arisen to break the spell.
"Let me get my breath!" panted Shrimp. "I never hustled so before.
Yes, I got him! Did you take me for a piker? Sure, I want a drink.
I’ve got a thirst a mile long. I want something to eat, too, and tell
him to hustle. You and I have got our night’s work cut out for us, old
socks!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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