Johnston McCulley

“ The elderly man, who carried a stick, struck at the one who looked like a thug. Blows fell thick and fast. Detective Jones sprang forward, and the thug thrust him away and caused him to go whirling down the steps. Marter, looking through the window, saw it.
Marter acted on impulse. It flashed through his mind that Jones was at the mercy of Nifty Burke, or perhaps Joe Carden himself. Marter sprang through the door to grapple with the fighting men, just as Jones charged up the steps again. ”

“ To the street Joe Carden hurried. He darted around the corner to where Nifty Burke had a taxicab waiting, jumped into it, and the chauffeur, who had his instructions, drove rapidly away. Nifty Burke walked nonchalantly down the street to the next corner, there to get a cab of his own.
Detective Sam Marter met Jones as he emerged from the post office, but Jones had seen nobody answering the description of the old man.
“He’s put one over on us!” Marter cried. “He can’t be far away. Old man—rusty coat—stooped shoulders. I’ll bet he’s the comedian—or else Burke. ”

“ He went into the dressing room his usual self, and emerged again an old man, stooped of shoulder, with shaggy hair, dressed in a rusty suit that made that of Razelus look like the latest in gentlemanly adornment. ”