It was a strange thing for the detectives to sit at the same table in a friendly way with three men whom they meant to hang, if possible.
But life is full of anomalies.
And detectives certainly meet with queer experiences. This was one of them beyond a doubt.
The Bradys quietly seated themselves at the table.
Burke called for beer.
But Old King Brady said:
“Don’t order any for us.”
“You won’t drink?”
“No.”
“Ah, that’s odd!” said Burke, with bad grace. “Mebbe it would be to yer interest to.”
“We do not drink anyway,” replied the old detective. “Not with anybody except when absolutely necessary.”
“Well, all right. Now let’s get to the point. What be ye shadowing us fer?”
“I have told you once,” replied Old King Brady, quietly.
“Yes, I am sure you did.”
The trio exchanged glances.
Martin Van contorted his ugly face frightfully and said:
“So ye mean to haul us in, do ye? That’s your game?”
“That is just it,” replied Old King Brady. “I know that you are the hired tools of Napoleon Blood!”
“Ugh!” said Collins, in a gritty voice. “Whoever runs up ag’in’ the trio has a hard time.”
“Lots of ’em have tried it.”
“And they’ve paid fer it,” said Burke.
“It’s a fair warnin’.”
Old King Brady laughed.
“You are talking to the wrong man,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do or say will scare me. I mean to put you fellows in the electric chair.”
“Well,” said Burke, darkly, “that’s a declaration of war.”
“That is my duty!”
For a few moments there was silence. Then Burke said:
“Yes, it is!”
“An’ you make war on us?”
“Ye don’t know what ye’re doin’. No man ever run up ag’in’ us that didn’t get the worst of it. Nuthin’ kin1 save ye if we git after ye. Don’t fergit that. Ye’ll have a hot race fer life!”
“All right,” said the old detective, rising, “you understand me, and I understand you.”
“You are satisfied to let it go at that?” asked Collins.
“Yes.”
“Very well. You will know what it is to fight the Tough Trio!”
“And you will soon find yourselves in the meshes4 of the law,” retorted Harry5. “Remember that escape is impossible. You are not for a moment lost sight of and whatever comes you are always within our reach!”
“Save your threats,” said Van.
“Make your peace with God!” advised Burke, coolly.
“You say you will hound us,” said Collins. “Why don’t you arrest us now?”
Old King Brady smiled.
“Have your fun now,” he said, “you may not have the stomach for it later.”
“Well, why don’t you arrest us?”
“I am not ready.”
“Is that your only excuse?”
“Just at present.”
Old King Brady bowed very politely. Then he said to Harry:
“Come! Let us get away from here.”
The detectives left the saloon.
They had no idea of leaving the vicinity, though. Their purpose was to remain as long as possible in close touch with the villains.
If the truth was told, the Bradys were not at all sure of their case.
They had not the slightest bit of legal evidence against the trio.
What they were satisfied of in their own minds could never be proved in a court of law.
So they were baffled.
8
“Harry,” said Old King Brady in a low tone of voice, “that old Blood is a fiend in human shape.”
“Indeed he is!”
“We must convict him!”
“We certainly will do so.”
Just then Harry gave a start and nudged Old King Brady.
At first, unseen to both, a man with muffled11 features had been standing13 in the shadows of the doorway.
He now emerged.
As he came into the light he turned sharply and said:
“Eh?” exclaimed Old King Brady. “What do you mean, sir?”
“You are tracking the trio with a belief that they are involved in that affair at the Fifteenth street house.”
“We are!”
“Well, you’re wrong. They are not the men.”
“Eh?” exclaimed Old King Brady. “What do you know about it?”
“I know it all.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Ralph Scott, detective, the same as you. I have the right clew!”
The two Bradys stared at the fellow.
“You have?” exclaimed Harry. “I would like to know what it is?”
“I can prove it, too!”
“That is best.”
“Well, I can tell you that the young cashier is the guilty man.”
“Do you mean Allerton Banks?”
“Yes.”
The detectives exchanged glances.
“Look here, Scott,” said Old King Brady, “you’re not a Secret Service man.”
“It isn’t necessary to be in the Secret Service to be a detective,” he snapped.
“Perhaps not. But what service are you in?”
“I have no ties. I am in the business on my own hook!”
“Private detective?”
“Yes.”
“Umph! What is your clew?”
“I got it through a man who is in a position to know all about the case.”
“Who is he?”
“That is my affair.”
“I can tell you who you mean.”
Scott looked incredulous.
“Well,” he said, “who?”
The private detective started. His face flushed angrily.
“Eh? You’d better guess again,” he said. “Who told you that?”
“Is it not so?”
“I refuse to say.”
“Well, how much has Blood promised to pay you to convict the cashier?”
Scott looked angry and baffled. He glared at the detectives savagely19. Then muttering he began to move away.
“Hold on!” said Harry. “Take a bit of advice before you go.”
“What do you mean?” demanded Scott, in a surly way.
“Better let this matter alone entirely20. It makes no difference what you do, you’re going to get the worst of it. Old Blood will surely be found out.”
“You talk like fools!” growled21 Scott. “But just keep on and we’ll see who comes out best. I work for money, I do!”
“That is right,” agreed Old King Brady. “Nobody will dispute that.”
“It is easy to understand him,” said the old detective. “He is only a tool for Blood.”
“It is evident the old usurer means to put the young cashier out of the way,” said Harry.
“Very true.”
“I think it would be a good idea to see Allerton and warn him.”
“So do I. Ah!”
Old King Brady gave a great start. A man had crossed the street and now passed very close to the detectives.
It was Blood.
The detectives were, of course, greatly interested.
They watched the old usurer carefully. He entered Sly Jimmie’s dive.
“He has gone in to see the trio,” said Old King Brady in a breath.
“Yes.”
“They will tell him of our position in the case.”
“The old fellow will be put on his guard.”
“Just so.”
“By Jupiter!” exclaimed Harry. “I’d like mighty23 well to know just what their conversation will be.”
“They would know us.”
“Well,” said the old detective, with sudden inspiration, “I think I have a plan.”
“What is it?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I think there is a small window on a level with the ground. It is directly over the table where those fellows sit.”
“Indeed!”
“It is true. I remember seeing it. Now, if we can only creep in there and either open the window or remove a pane26 of glass, we ought to hear every word.”
“Good! Let us try it.”
9
They crept into the alley and soon had located the window.
Here they made an agreeable discovery. It was not necessary to open the window or remove the glass.
Every word spoken by the villains below came up to their ears.
They were still seated at the table and Blood was with them.
The old usurer seemed greatly excited that the Bradys were possessed28 of a knowledge of his complicity in the crime.
“Curse them!” cried Blood, savagely. “I hope they do not know too much. Did you admit anything?”
“You bet we didn’t!” said Collins, angrily. “What do you take us for?”
“Well, it looks as if they might be an obstacle in our path.”
“Wall, you bet!”
“There’s only one thing to be done!”
“We’re waitin’ fer the word!”
“If the trio gets after them it’s all up with them.”
“You bet!” cried Van, with a fierce grin. “Say the word, boss. We’ll give ’em a race fer life. What’s the job worth to ye in solid money?”
“Ten thousand dollars!” replied the usurer.
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收听单词发音
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1
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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6
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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7
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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8
tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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9
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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10
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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12
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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13
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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15
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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16
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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17
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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18
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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19
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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20
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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21
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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22
edified
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| v.开导，启发( edify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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24
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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25
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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26
pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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27
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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28
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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