Transcriber’s Notes can be found at the end of this eBook. OTHER BOOKS BY MR. STRINGER THE DOOR OF DREAD THE MAN WHO COULDN’T SLEEP THE HOUSE OF INTRIGUE TWIN TALES THE PRAIRIE WIFE THE PRAIRIE MOTHER THE PRAIRIE CHILD [Illustration: Quite motionless, waiting over the sounder, bent the woman] THE WIRE TAPPERS _By_ ARTHUR STRINGER INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS COPYRIGHT, 1906, 1922 BY THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY _Printed in the United States of America_ PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO BOOK MANUFACTURERS BROOKLYN, N. Y. THE WIRE TAPPERS CHAPTER I The discharged prisoner hung back, blinking out at the strong sunlight with preoccupied and unhappy eyes. When the way at last seemed clear he thrust his hands deep in his pockets, and with an assumption of bravado that seemed incongruous to the stern and thoughtful face, sauntered toward Sixth Avenue. At the corner, a crowd of idlers watched two workmen on a scaffolding, cleaning the stone of Jefferson Market with a sand-blast. It was not until he had forced his way in on one side of this crowd, and edged circuitously out on the other, that he felt at ease with the world. It was like dipping into a stream: it seemed to wash away something scarlet and flaming. A more resolute touch of self-respect came back to him. The square shoulders took on some old-time line of natural dignity. He was of the world again. He crossed Sixth Avenue with quicker steps, and then, smitten with the pangs of sudden hunger, pushed his way into an oyster-bar on the next street corner. With his reawakening to actualities came the question as to what the next turn of the grim wheels of destiny would bring to him. For, at heart, he was still sick and shaken and weak. It was his first offense; and he felt the need of some obliterating stimulation. So, even though the heavy odors of that transformed bar-room were as nauseating as the mouldy gaol-smell he had left behind him, he calmly called for coffee and a dozen raw. He ate the oysters as they were opened, between gulps of the hot but rancid coffee. He next directed his attention to a bowl of crackers, moistening them with catchup as he adroitly made away with them.