Criminals -- Fiction; Social problems -- Fiction; United States -- Social conditions -- 1865-1918 -- Fiction
The next morning all five men were taken to the office of the
detectives. Besides Kouka, Quinn and Inspector McFee, there were two
others, one of whom the prisoners instantly recognized as Detective
Carney. Dillon and Mason had long known Carney, and respected him; he
was the only detective in the city whom they did respect, for this
silent, undemonstrative man, with the weather-beaten face, white hair
and shrewd blue eyes, had a profound knowledge of all classes of thieves
and their ways. Indeed, this knowledge, which made Carney the most
efficient detective in the city, militated against him with his
superiors; he knew too much for their comfort. As for Kouka and the
other detectives, they were jealous of him, though he never interfered
in their work nor offered suggestion or criticism; but they all felt
instinctively that he contemned them. When Dillon saw Carney his heart
sank; Mason’s, on the contrary, rose. Carney gave no sign of
recognition; it was plain that he was a mere spectator. But when Dillon
saw the other man he whispered to Mason out of the corner of his mouth:
"It’s all off."
This man was a tall, well-built fellow, with iron-gray hair, a ruddy
face and a small black mustache above full red lips; he was dressed in
gray, and he bore himself as something above the other officers present
because he was an United States inspector. His name was Fallen. He
glanced at the five men, and smiled and nodded complacently.
"I thought it looked like one of your jobs," he said, addressing Dillon
and Mason jointly. Dillon could not refrain from nudging Mason, and in
the same instant he caught Carney’s eye. Carney winked quietly, and
Dillon smiled, and to hide the smile, self-consciously ducked his head
and spat out his tobacco.
"Well," said Fallen, "I’m much obliged to you men." He included McFee
officially, and Kouka and Quinn personally in this acknowledgment.
"I’ll have the marshal come for them after dinner. I want Mason there
and Dillon"--he pointed fiercely and menacingly--"and Mandell and that
kid." He was indicating Squeak. "What’s your name?" he demanded.
Squeak hesitated, then said: "Davis."
Fallen laughed in his superior, federal way, and said:
"That’ll do as well as any."
Then he looked at Archie.
"I don’t want him," he said. "He doesn’t belong to this gang; he wasn’t
there. There were only four of them. You can cut him out."
Kouka and Quinn looked at each other in surprise; they were about to
protest. In Archie’s heart, as he watched this little drama, a wild
hope flamed. Carney, too, looked up, showing the first interest he had
evinced. Something in his look deterred Fallen, held his eye. He knew
Carney and his reputation; his glance plainly implied a question.
"You’re wrong on that fellow Mason," said Carney.
Fallen looked at him, then at Mason; then he smiled his superior smile.
"Oh, I guess not," he said lightly. He turned away with his complacent,
insulting smile.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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