FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116  
117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   >>   >|  
matter in hand--sent the detective to police headquarters. "I think I'll ask Donovan what Singa Phut said when he was arrested and charged with murdering his partner," said the colonel to himself. "There's an end I haven't developed very much. And I would like to ask that East Indian something about that queer watch." Donovan was at headquarters, it being his night "on," and he welcomed the detective as some one with whom he might hold converse. "Have a talk with Singa Phut? Why sure, if it will do you any good," said the headquarters man when the colonel had made known his desire. "I was going to the jail on another matter, anyhow, and I might as well kill two birds as one. They'll let you see him if I'm with you. Otherwise you'd have to get an order from the prosecutor's office. Come along." It was raining when they reached the jail, and the colonel, as he heard the patter of drops, thought of the night he had first come to Colchester. "There ought to be good fishing after this rain," said the colonel, with a regretful sigh as he thought of his rods and flies. "Fishin'!" exclaimed Donovan. "Say, that's something I haven't done since I was a kid! I used to like it, though. Well, here we are! Looks like a party. What d'you s'pose the warden's all lit up for?" Certainly the gloomy jail was more brightly lighted than usual at night, for the prisoners were locked in their cells and all illumination, save the keepers' lights, put out at nine o'clock. "We want to see that Dago, you know--Singa Phut," said Donovan, as he nodded to the deputy warden who answered their ring at the steel side door. "Humph! Little too late," was the answer. "Too late! What d'you mean? He's gone?" "That's it." "On bail? No, it couldn't be with a murder charge!" expostulated Donovan. "He can't be out! You're kiddin'!" "He's croaked!" answered the deputy warden. "We found him dead in his cell half an hour ago." CHAPTER XIV THE HIDDEN WIRES Donovan looked at the deputy as if about to dispute the statement. The detective even opened his lips to speak, but no sound came through them. Donovan sat down in a chair. "Do you mean--" he asked, passing his hand over his face, as though to brush away unseen cobwebs. "Do you mean that he's _dead_?" "Sure," was the answer. "Croaked, I told you. Deader 'n a burned out cigarette." "Well," observed Donovan dispassionately, "that's the limit!"
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116  
117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Donovan

 

colonel

 
deputy
 

warden

 

detective

 

headquarters

 

matter

 

answered

 

answer

 
thought

murder

 

Little

 
couldn
 

keepers

 

lights

 
illumination
 

prisoners

 

locked

 

charge

 

nodded


passing

 
unseen
 

cigarette

 

burned

 

observed

 
dispassionately
 

Deader

 
cobwebs
 

Croaked

 
CHAPTER

croaked
 

kiddin

 

opened

 
statement
 

HIDDEN

 

looked

 
dispute
 

expostulated

 

converse

 
desire

murdering

 

partner

 
charged
 

arrested

 

police

 

developed

 
welcomed
 
Indian
 

Otherwise

 
Fishin