Riverside Drive slept. The moon on and sidewalks. It was past one o'clock in the morning. The Forties were still with light and noisy foxtrots; but in the Hundreds, where Mr. Pett's house stood, reigned. Only the occasional of a the silence, or the love-sick of some Romeo a wall-top.
Jimmy was awake. He was on the of his his father put the touches to his make-up, which was of a and nature. The Crocker had the of Chicago Ed., King of the Kidnappers, on and lines, and one would have been to tell the that here was no white-souled for a and out-of-the-way alleys.
Mr. Crocker to this himself.
"The only trouble is, Jim," he said, at himself in the glass, "shan't I the boy to death directly he sees me? Oughtn't I to give him some of warning?"
"How? Do you sending him a note?"
Mr. Crocker his doubtfully.
"It's a good to on a kid at one in the morning," he said. "Suppose he has a fit!"
"He's more likely to give you one. Don't you worry about Ogden, dad. I shouldn't think there was a child alive more equal to such a situation."
There was an empty on a on the dressing-table. Mr. Crocker this sadly.
"I wish you hadn't that away, Jim. I have done with it. I'm nervous."
"Nonsense, dad! You're all right! I had to it away. I'm on the now, but how long I should have on with that up at me I don't know. I've up my mind to myself to the level of the that with the Rum again, my wife has views on the subject: but there's no in taking chances. Temptation is all very well, but you don't need it on your dressing-table. It was a of yours to place it there, dad, but—"
"Eh? I didn't put it there."
"I that of thing came in your department. Isn't it the butler's job to supply drinks to the and gentry? Well, it doesn't matter. It is now over the soil, thus a powerful from your path. You're without it." He looked at his watch. "Well, it ought to be all right now." He to the window. "There's an there. I it's Jerry. I told him to be at one and it's nearly half-past. I think you might be starting, dad. Oh, by the way, you had tell Ogden that you a of the name of Buck Maginnis. It was Buck who got away with him last time, and a to-have up them. There's nothing like with a good introduction."
Mr. Crocker took a final survey of himself in the mirror.
"Gee I I'd to meet myself on a road!"
He opened the door, and for a moment listening.
From the passage came the of a snore.
"Third door on the left," said Jimmy. "Three—count 'em!—three. Don't go mixed."
Mr. Crocker into the like a ghost, and Jimmy closed the door him.
Having his parent safely on a career of crime, Jimmy off the light and returned to the window. Leaning out, he gave himself up for a moment to musings. The night was very still. Through the trees which the house the of what was Jerry Mitchell's car like fire-flies. A of some was the river. Such was the of the time and the that Jimmy might have there indefinitely, dreams, had he not been under the of making his way to the library. It was his to close the French after his father and Ogden had passed through, and he to in the there until the time came for him to do this. It was that he avoid being by Ogden.
Locking his door him, he downstairs. There were no of life in the house. Everything was still. He the leading to the without having to on the lights.
It was in the gallery, and a of old leather him. He his father would not be long. He himself to the floor, and, his against a shelf, to wonder how the Chicago Ed. and his was progressing.
Mr. Crocker, meanwhile, to the eyes, had in to the door which Jimmy had indicated. A good of the with which he had on this enterprise had away from him. Now that he had to the of himself once more playing a part, his to itself. It was one thing to play Chicago Ed. at a Broadway theatre, but another to give a performance like this. As he tip-toed along the passage, the one thing that presented itself most to him was the outcome of this act of his, should anything go wrong. He would have back, but for the that Jimmy was on him and that success would Jimmy's happiness. Stimulated by this reflection, he opened Ogden's door by and in. He across the room.
He had almost the bed, and had just to wonder how on earth, now that he was there, he open the and without the boy, when he was saved the trouble of on this problem. A light out of the with the of a bomb, and a voice from the same direction said "Hands up!"
When Mr. Crocker had and had his to the glare, he Ogden up in with a in his hand. The was on his knee, and its pointed directly at Mr. Crocker's stomach.
Exhaustive as had been the which Jimmy's father had to the possible of his enterprise, this was a of which he had not dreamed. He was at a loss.
"Don't do that!" he said huskily. "It might go off!"
"I should worry!" Ogden coldly. "I'm at the right end of it. What are you doing here?" He looked at the weapon. "I got this with cigarette-coupons, to shoot when we to the country. Here's where I a at something part-human."
"Do you want to me?"
"Why not?"
Mr. Crocker's make-up was his in streams. The mask, however, Ogden from this phenomenon. He was at his visitor. An idea him.
"Say, did you come to me?"
Mr. Crocker the of which he had sometimes on the stage when memory had failed him a and a fellow-actor had him the line. It would be to say that he was himself again. He be at his with that pistol pointing at him; but he better. He his voice an or so, and spoke in a growl.
"Aw, it, kid. Nix on the stuff!"
"Keep those hands up!" Ogden.
"Sure! Sure!" Mr. Crocker. "Can the gun-play, bo! Say, you've since de last time we got youse!"
Ogden's manner friendly.
"Are you one of Buck Maginnis' lot?" he almost politely.
"Dat's right!" Mr. Crocker the which had Jimmy's words. "I'm Buck."
"Why didn't Buck come himself?"
"He's on job!"
To Mr. Crocker's Ogden the pistol.
"I'm for Buck," he said conversationally. "We're old pals. Did you see the piece in the paper about him me last time? I've got it in my press-clipping album."
"Sure," said Mr. Crocker.
"Say, listen. If you take me now, Buck's got to come across. I like Buck, but I'm not going to let myself be for his benefit. It's fifty-fifty, or nothing doing. See?"
"I you, kid."
"Well, if that's understood, all right. Give me a minute to some on, and I'll be with you."
"Don't make a noise," said Mr. Crocker.
"Who's making any noise? Say, how did you in here?"
"T'roo de windows."
"I always some would in that way. It me why they didn't have on them."
"Dere's a buzz-wagon outside, waitin'."
"You do it in style, don't you?" Ogden, on his shirt. "Who's this with you? Any one I know?"
"Naw. A new guy."
"Oh? Say, I don't you, if it comes to that."
"You don't?" said Mr. Crocker a little discomposed.
"Well, maybe I wouldn't, with that on you. Which of them are you?"
"Chicago Ed.'s my monaker."
"I don't any Chicago Ed."
"Well, you will after dis!" said Mr. Crocker, inspired.
Ogden was him with suspicion.
"Take that off and let's have a look at you."
"Nothing doin'."
"How am I to know you're on the level?"
Mr. Crocker played a card.
"All right," he said, making a move the door. "It's up to youse. If you t'ink I'm not on de level, I'll it."
"Here, stop a minute," said Ogden hastily, that a promising should be in this manner. "I'm not saying anything against you. There's no need to off the like that."
"I'll tell Buck I couldn't you," said Mr. Crocker, moving another step.
"Here, stop! What's the with you?"
"Are comin' me?"
"Sure, if you the conditions. Buck's got to me of he out of this."
"Dat's right. Buck'll of anyt'ing he gets."
"All right, then. Wait till I've got this shoe on, and let's start. Now I'm ready."
"Beat it quietly."
"What did you think I was going to do? Sing?"
"Step way!" said Mr. Crocker jocosely.
They left the room cautiously. Mr. Crocker for a moment had a of something missing. He had the stairs he what it was. Then it upon him that what was was the applause. The had a round.
Jimmy, in the gallery, the library door open and, over the rail, two in the darkness. One was large, the other small. They the room together.
Whispered him.
"I you said you came in this way."
"Sure."
"Then why's the closed?"
"I it after I was in."
There was a sound, by a click. The of the room was by moonlight. The passed through. Jimmy ran from the gallery, and closed the softly. He had just the shutters, when from the passage there came the of a footstep.
