第11章

"Ah, Jimmie!" Carruthers turned with an excited smile."That's the boy! You've made mighty quick time.""Well, you told me to hurry," grumbled Jimmie Dale."I'm doing my best to please you to-night.Came down in my car, and got summoned for three fines to-morrow."Carruthers laughed."Come on," he said; and, linking his arm in Jimmie Dale's, turned the corner, and headed west along the cross street."This is going to make a noise," he continued, a grim note creeping into his voice."The biggest noise the city has ever heard.I take back all I said about the Gray Seal.I'd always pictured his cleverness as being inseparable with at least a decent sort of man, even if he was a rogue and a criminal, but I'm through with that.He's a rotter and a hound of the rankest sort! I didn't think there was anything more vulgar or brutal than murder, but he's shown me that there is.A guttersnipe's got more decency! To murder a man and then boastfully label the corpse is--""Say, Carruthers," said Jimmie Dale plaintively, suddenly hanging back, "I say, you know, it's--it's all right for you to mess up in this sort of thing, it's your beastly business, and I'm awfully damned thankful to you for giving me a look-in, but isn't it--er--rather INFRA DIG for me? A bit morbid, you know, and all that sort of thing.I'd never hear the end of it at the club--you know what the St.James is.Couldn't I be Merideth Stanley Annstruther, or something like that, one of your new reporters, or something like that, you know?"Carruthers chuckled."Sure, Jimmie," he said."You're the latest addition to the staff of the NEWS-ARGUS.Don't worry; the incomparable Jimmie Dale won't figure publicly in this.""It's awfully good of you," said Jimmie gratefully."I have to have a notebook or something, don't I?"Carruthers, from his pocket, handed him one."Thanks," said Jimmie Dale.

A little way ahead, a crowd had collected on the sidewalk before a doorway, and Carruthers pointed with a jerk of his hand.

"It's in Moriarty's place--a gambling hell," he explained."Ihaven't got the story myself yet, though I've been inside, and had a look around.Inspector Clayton discovered the crime, and reported it at headquarters.I was at my desk in the office when the news came, and, as you know the interest I've taken in the Gray Seal, Idecided to 'cover' it myself.When I got here, Clayton hadn't returned from headquarters, so, as you seemed so keenly interested last week, I telephoned you.If Clayton's back now we'll get the details.Clayton's a good fellow with the 'press,' and he won't hold anything out on us.Now, here we are.Keep close to me, and I'll pass you in."They shouldered through the crowd and up to an officer at the door.

The officer nodded, stepped aside, and Carruthers, with Jimmie Dale following, entered the house.

They climbed one flight, and then another.The card-rooms, the faro, stud, and roulette layouts were deserted, save for policemen here and there on guard.Carruthers led the way to a room at the back of the hall, whose door was open and from which issued a hubbub of voices--one voice rose above the others, heavy and gratingly complacent.

"Clayton's back," observed Carruthers.

They stepped over the threshold, and the heavy voice greeted them.

"Ah, here's Carruthers now! H'are you, Carruthers? They told me you'd been here, and were coming back, so I've been keeping the boys waiting before handing out the dope.You've had a look at that--eh?" He flung out a fat hand toward the bed.

The voices rose again, all directed at Carruthers now.

"Bubble's burst, eh, Carruthers? What about the 'Prince of Crooks'?

Artistry in crime, wasn't it, you said?" They were quoting from his editorials of bygone days, a half dozen reporters of rival papers, grinning and joshing him good-naturedly, seemingly quite unaffected by what lay within arm's reach of them upon the bed.

Carruthers smiled a little wryly, shrugged his shoulders--and presented Jimmie Dale to Inspector Clayton.

"Mr.Matthewson, a new man of ours--inspector.""Glad to know you, Mr.Matthewson," said the inspector.

Jimmie Dale found his hand grasped by another that was flabby and unpleasantly moist; and found himself looking into a face that was red, with heavy rolls of unhealthy fat terminating in a double chin and a thick, apoplectic neck--a huge, round face, with rat's eyes.

Clayton dropped Jimmie Dale's hand, and waved his own in the air.

Jimmie Dale remained modestly on the outside of the circle as the reporters gathered around the police inspector.