Leroy Scott

“ Never before was there so much easy money in New York, recklessly made in war speculation and being recklessly spent; never before was there such a big chance for the gamblers and confidence men. Their first step was completed when they got rid of you and Mr. Thorne. Now that Mr. Bradley is Acting Commissioner of Police--he really engineered the whole affair-- they are preparing for the next step, and that is to begin business."
"Great God, what a plan!" ejaculated Clifford--and for a moment he again gave grudging admiration to the daring and perverted genius of Bradley. ”

“ A necklace--stolen--Bradley told of it! Excitement began to thrill through Clifford, but still he remained silent.
"Really, you ought to understand how I felt about your reporting the theft to Bradley," Tarleton pleaded desperately. "Why, already I have the money for another necklace--even though it is part of the dirty price Bradley paid me for helping frame two friends." He waited a moment. "Why don't you say something, Clarice!" And then at the continued silence: "For God's sake, let's have some light anyhow!" And at the continued darkness: "I'll turn on the light myself!" ”

“ Five minutes later, just behind the machine which contained Bradley and the detectives, Thorne's touring car was droning along Ocean Parkway through the warm night, its objective point the office of the District Attorney. Thorne was at the wheel, beside him Mary Regan; and in the roomy tonneau were Clifford, Tarleton, Joe Russell, Slant-Face, and Slant-Face's wife--she that months ago had been the light-minded Jennie Malone whom Slant-Face, in his adroitly kindled jealous rage, had once thought that he had killed. ”

“ There were rows and rows and still more rows of tables--and tubbed palms imported from the tropical wilds of Long Island, arranged in files and clumps and squares that gave a degree of detachment to such guests as desired privacy--and a fountain in the midst, in which plaster nymphs disported and tossed on high great fans of spray for colored lights to play upon--and an orchestra of negroes in Turkish garb, whose oriental music was the rag-time beloved by Coney Island. "The Meeting Place of the World" the proprietors of the Sultan's Garden flamboyantly called it ”

“ The real head of the syndicate that is working with Mr. Bradley is Uncle Joe."
"What! Joe Russell!" cried Clifford, dumfounded. "But Philip Morgan?"
"He has only been a blind all the while. They wanted you and Thorne to suspect him and follow the wrong scent, so you'd overlook the real person."
"So Morgan, too, was just a plant!" Clifford gazed at her silently, while he comprehended this new phase of Bradley's vast scheme. ”

“ Bradley did it through Clarice Langhorne."
Clifford eyed her keenly, remembering that only a few days before he had seen Mary and Clarice Langhorne in this same room, seemingly the best of friends--and remembering, too, that in the unstable condition of their own friendship he had, not then dared presume to warn her.
"I hope you have not let yourself get tangled up with Clarice Langhorne."
"No. I was with her only because Mr. Bradley required that we should seem to be friends."
"Bradley never does a thing without a reason. That friendship may turn out later to have a part in his plan. ”

“ Then in a degree he recovered. "Would you mind walking in Washington Square--for a few minutes?"
She assented, and silently they turned southward. They crossed into the Square and found a bench near to that uprearing hulk of ironmongery upon which the Italian population hang their adoration--Garibaldi's statue--and here they sat speechless for a space, while above them began the drab miracle of a faintly breaking dawn. Telling a woman that he loves her is the most difficult task that a man's man ever drives himself, or is driven, to undertake. But after a time Clifford got through with it. ”

“ My prompt arrest was Mr. Bradley's way of warning me. I've been given to understand that if I keep in line, it will develop that my arrest was a blunder based on a mistake for which Clarice Langhorne will apologize."
"And if you don't keep in line?"
"But he's sure I will--and so is Uncle Joe."
"But if you don't--and Bradley comes out on top--he's got you where he'll show you up to the public as a far worse person than we privately know Clarice Langhorne to be. Bradley never forgets."
"I know. that's my risk." She shrugged her shoulders. "But the most important thing I haven't yet told you." ”

“ Tarleton breathed huskily.
"Thank Clifford." After which Slant-Face sank back beside his wife and lapsed into the silence that was his habit.
"Bob," remarked Joe Russell in his drawling voice, "I suppose I ought to be much obliged to you for pulling me through this jam--but you've certainly put me in bad with the boys in my own line. Turning against a head copper, that'll queer me all around. Nobody has any use for a squealer. Nobody'll trust me or work with me. I'm done for. I'll never be able to turn another trick." ”

“ She exists only in real life--and there's an awful lot of her in the big restaurants and hotels of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, and in the apartments of Riverside Drive. there's nothing obvious about Clarice Langhorne--except that she's remarkably handsome, and remarkably well gowned, and remarkably clever in conversation--and all this helps make her about the most expert and successful adventuress I have ever met. I'm glad--mighty glad!--that you weren't taken in by her. And I hope I'm wrong in thinking that perhaps Bradley had some purpose in forcing you to be with her. ”

“ Clifford was puzzled by Russell's manner. But as he went out Mary Regan gave him the look of a firm ally. That was the great thing: Mary Regan was now on his side--fighting!
II
Clifford had left word down in the office that any one calling should be shown right up; so sitting alone in the darkened parlor of the hotel suite he had taken in Clarice Langhorne's name, and which he had so carefully scented with Clarice Langhorne's characteristic heliotrope that Clarice herself seemed present, he waited patiently. ”

“ Was she in reality my own child?--in reality an heiress kidnapped in her early years?--in reality the daughter of some socially prominent family, with a daring kleptomaniac strain? Romance!--mystery!--chuck full of it! ”

“ Tarleton slumped into the chair at which Clifford pointed, and Clifford sat down facing him.
"I'm going to try reason on you first, Tarleton, and if that fails I'll use something you won't like so well. You've played on Thorne and me the rottenest trick that a man can play on a friend--but at the start-off I'm going to say that I know you did it to save yourself from some awful jam you've got into. And I know that your helping frame Thorne and me hasn't got you out of it--that it has only temporarily staved off danger. ”

“ Tarleton gave a start, but did not reply.
Clifford answered for him. "Some of the gowns you saw on her only once, and some you never saw her wear at all."
"What are you getting at?"
"I'm getting at Clarice Langhorne's other business. don'tyou begin to see? It's a new business--only a few women are in it yet, and she's the cleverest of the lot. New York summer widowers, like yourself, and rich men from the West are her specialty. I guess you know well enough how she secures their admiration, and then makes known the condition of her wardrobe. ”

“ Further, I'm pretty sure I can get you clear of this tangle you're in with Bradley and Clarice Langhorne. You stand to lose nothing, and to gain everything."
Clifford could see that the shattered man before him was wavering, and he read the consideration that was at the fore of Tarleton's mind. ”

“ Then a powerful limousine--the same car that Clifford had followed to Coney Island half a dozen nights before--appeared at the curb, Morgan quickly entered it, and the car made toward Fifth Avenue.
All alert, Clifford was stepping toward the starter to order a car in which to follow, when a hand fell upon his arm. Turning quickly, he saw Slant-Face Regan.
"Sorry, Slant-Face--no time to talk now"--and he tried to go on. But Slant-Face's grip held him. "Only'll keep you for five seconds. Been looking for you for two hours. Got the Langhorne dame covered--and think there'll be something doing." ”

“ And for Clifford triumph and vindication did not end with what had happened at the Sultan's Garden. For Louis Gordon, Bradley's instrument in that matter of long since which had brought about Clifford's original disgrace and his discharge from the Police Department, had seen in what direction lay safety and without losing an hour had hastened up here to the District Attorney's office and made full confession.
...
"How does it feel to be a hero?" a voice beside him interrupted. Clifford turned; the speaker was Thorne. ”

“ But this isn't a case of my jumping a lieutenant over the heads of captains and inspectors. As you know, this job is not a police officer's, but a private citizen's job. you're out of the Department now, you're just a private citizen, and you're the best man for the place. there's no earthly reason why you shouldn't be appointed. And excuse me, Clifford--but by God, I'm going to appoint you! ”