J. Allan Dunn

“ Baldy was shrewd enough to let his daughter think she shared his secrets, but, hardened as he might be, the father in him wished to keep the girl in ignorance of the crimes he committed, the risks he ran. With a man of Baldy’s caliber, that would not be difficult. And he had trusted to Sperry’s breeding not to give him away. Though, after all, Sperry knew nothing, and the girl would not believe hearsay or even proof. ”

“ He saw that recognition was not yet mutual on account of his clothes and their style, but soon it would become definite. He longed to rush up to the gallery and confront Remington. But that would mean arrest. What was Remington doing here? He had been discharged, but how had he obtained this position so soon?
Then he became conscious that others were staring at him, that he was standing in a defiant attitude, glaring at Remington. He saw the spark of recognition come into Remington’s eyes, a smile of triumph begin to come on his face. The ex-paying teller leaned forward. ”

“ It’s a cinch you plugged this stepfather of yours. It’s a cinch they’ve got a reward out for you. If he’s a millionaire and got it in for you, he’ll have New York all stirred in inside of twenty-four hours, soon as they know things are really doing. You’ll have to stay Manning. And you’re new to the game, they may nab you. Tell me the whole mess, and I can give you some expert advice, anyway.”
Sperry hesitated and then plunged into the whole yarn. Baldy listened non-committally. ”

“ Baldy whom he had saved from the killer. He was in Baldy’s house, guest of a notorious crook to whom the underworld looked up. Sperry had heard of honor among thieves. Could it be possible that gratitude was so strong a virtue among criminals? He had seen little sidelights of Baldy’s character the night before—earlier that morning, rather—that spoke of a man callous and desperate. Why should Baldy have taken him into his own house, have given him a moniker, have proclaimed him a pal from Chicago? ”

“ Baldy let himself in with a latch-key and Sperry followed, obeying his host’s gesture for silence. On the next floor Baldy opened the door of a cosy bedroom and motioned to Sperry to enter, leaving him.
Within the minute he was back again with a big towel and a suit of pajamas. “You can make out with these,” he said. “Bath is next room, to your right. Plenty of hot water. Sleep as late as you like. I’ll tip you off when to get up. And don’t worry, pal. It don’t do a bit of good, and half the time you worry over nothing. You get a souse in hot water and turn in.” ”

“ He slipped swiftly into his new clothes—a tweed suit of fair quality and of a fair fit, tan shoes instead of his black ones; and, coming back from the bathroom where he had found a brush and comb, announced himself to Baldy who still sat upon his bed.
“I want to thank you,” he began.
“Nix on that stuff,” answered Baldy. “If you owe me anything I’ll give you a chance to square up later.”
“You’ve been out this morning,” said Sperry. “Did you get a paper?”
“Son,” said Baldy, “outside of going in swimming, always tackle a job on a full stomach. First we eat.” ”

“ The killer was coming sullenly, viciously out of his trance, glaring at the man he would have shot in the back. Then Sperry saw the hate in his eyes change to uncertainty. The man with the mole had taken off his hat, displaying a skull practically bald, and he was grinning at the killer. Front teeth liberally filled with gold shone under the lamp.
“Just why were you tryin’ to bump me off, pal?” he was saying. “What’s the reason? Who did you take me for, a dick? An’ who’re you? ”

“ As Sperry set down the papers, Baldy produced another from his coat pocket.
“You see, this isn’t strictly a New York matter,” he said. “They ain’t apt to worry about the troubles of another State until they are requested to by that State’s police. But they’ve played you up in Boston, and also, I imagine, in your local paper, though of course 1 didn’t know what that was when I was buying these this morning, and I probably couldn’t have got one, anyway. But here’s the Boston Nation, with all the publicity any one could hope for even Baldy Brown of Chicago,” he ended, with a laugh. ”

“ A quarrel ensued between Sperry and his stepfather. The Cairns’ butler heard high words in the library, and, attempting to enter, was struck down by Sperry. Recovering from the blow, the butler entered the room, to find Mr. Cairns unconscious with a deep cut in his temple from am inkstand that Sperry had flung at him before escaping from the house.
Late this evening Mr. Cairns made a brief statement in which he said that he regretted the publicity necessary, as Mrs. Cairns, who was wintering in Florida, was in delicate health. ”

“ You must be full of hop. I never met the flat-foot. I’m Baldy Brown of Chi’, and I struck town three weeks ago. I ain’t met with your dick pals—yet. And I don’t consider it over and above easy bein’ taken for one, either. Sit up, you, and take a good look at me. Do you think I look like a dick? Do you?”
His face was so venomous that even Sperry, disinterested in the controversy, drew back, but Baldy Brown suddenly put out an arm and held him with a grip of steel. ”

“ Then you are to saunter back, go in to the third counter on the right, and ask the clerk to look at some tie-clips. If the red-headed clerk is not on duty and does not attend to you, do not buy anything. If he is busy, try to gauge it so he can wait on you without making it too obvious. ”

“ Evidently some correspondent from Longfield had covered the case for nearly all the New York press and the Associated News, for the items were practically identical. The heads included: “Commits Forgery and Attempts Murder. Scion of Well-known Family Presents False Check and Tries to Kill Stepfather.” The article read:
Longfield, Massachusetts.—John J. Sperry, of Swiftbrook Bowl, the aristocratic resort of the Berkshire Hills, made a desperate attempt to take the life of his stepfather, Simeon Cairns, the millionaire who recently married Mrs. ”