Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/postmelvilledavissonwalkerofthesecretservice1924zpexciter WALKER OF THE SECRET SERVICE * * * * * * By MELVILLE DAVISSON POST WALKER OF THE SECRET SERVICE MONSIEUR JONQUELLE: PREFECT OF POLICE OF PARIS THE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL-TEACHER THE SLEUTH OF ST. JAMES’S SQUARE THE MYSTERY AT THE BLUE VILLA UNCLE ABNER, MASTER OF MYSTERIES These Are Appleton Books D. APPLETON AND COMPANY Publishers New York * * * * * * WALKER OF THE SECRET SERVICE by MELVILLE DAVISSON POST Author of “Monsieur Jonquelle: Prefect of Police of Paris,” “The Sleuth of St. James’ Square,” “Uncle Abner,” etc. D. Appleton and Company New York :: London :: MCMXXIV Copyright, 1924, by D. Appleton and Company Copyright, 1920, by International Magazine Company. Copyright, 1920, 1921, by The Ridgway Company. Copyright, 1921, by The Pictorial Review Company. Copyright, 1921, 1922, by The Consolidated Magazines Corporation. Copyright, 1923, by The McCall Company. Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS I. The Outlaw II. The Holdup III. The Bloodhounds IV. The Secret Agent V. The Big Haul VI. The Passing of Mooney VII. The Diamond VIII. The Expert Detective IX. The “Mysterious Stranger” Defense X. The Inspiration XI. The Girl in the Picture XII. The Menace XIII. The Symbol WALKER OF THE SECRET SERVICE CHAPTER I The Outlaw Near the entrance of the great circus tent there was a little man in a canvas chair. He sat at the end of the long alley, which was hung with painted signs. Nothing had escaped me. I had no money to see any wonder, and so had to be content with what was displayed outside. It was early in the morning. The grass before the tents had not yet been trodden down; few persons were about, and I had the marvels of this fantastic alley to myself. I had advanced slowly along every foot of it, and now I stood just beyond the roped-off entrance to the big tent, and the little man in the canvas chair. There was something in the appearance of this man that drew my eye. He sat in the chair as though every muscle were relaxed, his eyes closed, his head drooping. Now and then he put up his hand and pressed the fingers over his face. It seemed a habit, as though his face had the sensation of being swollen.