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Full Title
Chicago Ledger, v. XLI, no. 40, Saturday, October 4, 1913.
Contributor
Miller, Warne, M. D.
Date Added
3 September 2014
Format
Newspaper
Language
English
Publish Date
1913-10-04
Publisher
Chicago, Ill. : W. D. Boyce Company
Source
Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title
Detective Crawley's Nerve; or, Playing a Trump Card / by Warne Miller, M. D. Playing a Trump Card.
Topic
Popular literature > Specimens. Story papers > Specimens.
About
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Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
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A PRQPIIECY‘ THAT CAISIE TRUE.
(zscx) MUST see him, I tell you!
‘It is 3. case of life and
death. .Let me come in!"
- es Crawley immed-
y in furthering
‘the work upon which he happened to be
engaged.
e had really just sat down at the
little table in his private room, whercon
‘buttered toast, the latter covered with a
snowy napkin, when these stirring words
floated to his a: They came from the
direction of the front door. whither
one in ahswer to a yiolent
wonderlul hearing. lle
instantly recognized the voice as belong-
ing to Rudolph Van VV'inkle, :1 young
' society man whom he, had long known as
n. good-natured fellow. whose failings
were probably no worse than the majori-
Wiuklc must
have some pretty strong excuse for visit-
ing the detective at such an early hour
in the morning. Perhaps Crawley was
very much surprised. lie had 8
faculty for knowing more about the se-
cret acralrs or men than they ever dream-
ed possible.
"Philip!" he Called out.
"Yes. sir!"
"Show the gentleman in!"
And Fl. few seconds later Van lvinkle
entered the Curious little den. bl" study,
or ohlce-whatever one chose to call it.
men there were who believed the
made to confess their shortcomings.
’ Van Winkle was not loo ing well this
morning. In fact, he had a l the ap])car-
3. man who had been
hmken up, for his face was haiziznrd, his
eyes heavy and bloodshot. and his hnnri
tromhlerl when he took the extended
1 the detective.
- ‘sit down. "an."
Mumbling something that may have
been thanks, the visitor obeyed.
Crowley was eylnx. him sh:lrlJi5'-
Doubtless that analytical mind of his
was making mental comments on the ap-
pearance of the usually fastidious Van
Winkle. ,
“Now. what is it, my fricndl"
a long breath.
'3’ to have found
you home at this ungodly hour, Mr.
Crawley," '
Even while sneaking he seemed to
throw oi’! a little of his nervousness.
Perhaps part of it had arisen trom his
and that in such a.
really know what to
“it was :1 mere accident, for a fact.
Ordinarily you would have had to come
again. But imagine that this is the
first occasion you've seen the sun rise for
a long stretch, an."
"That‘s 41 fact," wlfn a dreary smile
and a. shudder that did not escape the
sharp eye of the detective.
“Tu ning over a new leaf?" he went on
softly, as it inviting B. confession. .
"After this I will, I swear by every-
:thing I hold sacred! Tilat is, if I get the
chance belore they send me to the chair!"
No wonderthe detectives eyebrows
went. up at this.
“Come. you've possibly overshot the
mark last night and taken too much of
the bubble water. I've seen men near
the border of delirium tremens. ‘and they
always act this way."
t Van Winkle would have none of
case he would not
d
6:
5.“
it. He shook lent] violently in the
negative.
“You don‘t untlt-rstand, Crowley.
till 1 muster up enough grit to tell you
the worst. I've been roaming the streets
(Or nearly three hours, afraid to go to my
rooms lest I find an ollicer there Waiting
that time? Three hours? by the
ttlocit. but it's been as many years to
ne."‘
Again the eyebrows of the detective
went up. ,
Ills busy mllltl wns putting two and
two in line, and light was beginning to
dawn upon his vision
, you seriously,
nlk of policemen and
Jail as though yoh had reason to dread
having either. And I'm beginning to be-
lieve that there is something more in
your actions than a more attack 01 jim-
ams."
"Oh! it it were only that I could stand
it. There would be a chance of s. cure.
As it is, nothing but disgrace and I1 ter-
rible punishment store me in the race."
“What hay '
w how to tell you. Mr.
Crowley: it is so shitmelul, so utterly dis-
gusting. I was warned ths it I kept
on my carousing I'd reach some bad end;
,but 1‘on1y laughed at my good old aunt.
Now. her dismal-prophecy seems about to
come true. But I swear I'll never live to
expiate the thing‘ in the (‘hrtir."
"Perliaps I could make a venture. and
strike near the truth, Van." suggested
the detective, quietly. .
e other stared at him aghast.
Don't tell me it is com-
mon property, and that the order has
already gone out to nab me?"
He Was almost piliable in his mental
distress; and nowing that Van Winkle
was at heart quite a decent youn
feel anything but sympa n him.
Contempt he never experienced toward
e weak brother who had sinned. -
"Tell me. Van, is it in Connection with
B. certain friend or yours that you are
worried this way?" ‘
"Yes," rnuttcrvd the staring visitor.
"Allan Thlirndylte?"
“Heavens. it is so!" .
"lie was found dead on the street early
this morning, with his head crushed in
by a brick!" r
Van Winkle was beyond makin
sound. excepting a great sigh that seem-
ed to well up from the depths oi’ his tor-
tured heartl But he nodded in the at-
ilrmative. still keeping his bloodshol eyes
glued on that i'acs,oi' the great detective,
to whom he had come in his despair.
“ ‘ere you with Thorndyke last night,
V‘an?," , .
i