Isabel Ostrander

“ The garage proved to be a large one and from the costly types of the cars which filled every available foot of space it was evident that it catered to an exclusive class of private trade. A man in overalls with an oil-rag in his hand slouched in the entrance-way and glanced up half surlily as McCarty halted before him. ”

“ Creveling's death, I refuse to speak of it—!"
"You'll not be asked to, ma'am. You'll just be yourself and look on, and if you speak of anything it'll be of your own will. Of course you are free to accept my terms or act as you please—?"
"I'll accept!" she laughed hysterically. "I know when I'm beaten, and you hold the cards! After all, it's every one for themselves, isn't it? I'll be ready for you, Mr. McCarty, when you come."
Dennis Riordan was almost ill with suspense when just as he was going off duty that evening he was called to the telephone. ”

“ He pointed toward the farther side of the garage. "How did it happen?"
"So that's it, is it? That's the road-louse that busted my taxicab?" McCarty doubled one fist significantly. "And the rotter that was behind the wheel driving off like the devil and leaving me for dead for all he knew, or cared! I'm going to have the law on him good and proper but I'll take a little of it out on his hide first! A decent, hard-working man ain't got a chance to make a living these days with guys like him hogging the road and riding over him." ”

“ McCarty suggested blandly.
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Kip retreated a step and a rich color dyed her face.
"Only that now her husband's gone it was probably just as easy for Mrs. Creveling to get a line on things she hadn't known before, as it was for us to do the same thing, Mrs. Kip!" There was a stern note in his voice. "'Tis nothing to us, of course, since it has no bearing on the actual murder, but neither has the errand that brought me here the day. There's enough dirt and scandal in this case as it is without dragging in more that don't concern it and people that have been only foolish. ”

“ It isn't proper for us to discuss the members of the club, sir, but a fat man like Mr. Waverly oughtn't to get himself all worked up the way he does. He'll drop dead some day right here and there's bound to be unpleasant comment in the papers. I thought myself that he would have a stroke that night!"
"And who was he looking for?" McCarty saw the man's color change.
"I really don't know, sir. I didn't hear him say—"
"Oh, that's all right." McCarty laughed. "If it was Eugene Creveling, the man who was shot that night, you needn't be afraid to say so. ”

“ He had purposely neglected to shave and the old suit which he had donned was unpressed and shiny as to seams, while the usual derby had been replaced by a shabby cap set at a decidedly rakish angle, which concealed a long strip of perfectly superfluous surgical plaster. He looked every inch a middle-aged mechanic, hard-working but with "failure" written upon his lugubrious countenance. ”