THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 22, 1940.
I
SHORT STORY
New York Adventure By J. Wentwood King
SIX months' special leave on full pay and allowances! The Old Firm had been surprisingly gen- erous, Very often it had been my Experience that the more you do, the more you may, and it makes no difference to your pay.
What actually hap-
deed, was Carmano, as he proved. admit, but now you are here, it A rat, but a clever rat, who work- good work.
might be better for all parties ed for anybody who paid him, who pened inside the den of vipers?" afterwards.
had no country and no honour. He I told him and asked him what,
his I should do with the money, would have probably sold family. if he had a family, which I hoped he had not. I felt just a little bit more secure when I fell the diminutive automatic that, I had fixed under my evening jäe- ket, I rarely carry weapons on my person, but the F.B.I. men had advised me to pack a gun on this occasion,
"We know that you have been in
At the local office of the Federal concerned if you were to answer Bureau of Investigation of the Des' some questions."
"Anything you like within rea- 'partment of Justice I found a min in his thirties, slightly grey at the son. I must not talk of the arm's temples and with shrewd grey business, of course." I had pulled something off eyes and excellent manners. Seal- "Why have you come to New which pleased them and I was cd beside him was an .alert-look- York?" now spending a few days in New ing captain of the United States York, a far different city to the Marine Corps in uniform and an China, and in Northern Africa be- Manhattan I had known twenty obvious Army Officer in plain fore that, and now you admit years ago.
clothes. I recognised the soldier, México," Carlino's Cabpret had attracted "Colonel Culler, is it not?" He me, because I knew the proprie- jumped up, "Good gracious, Bran- tor, one Felipe Carmand, a well- dane, why have they brought you inannered and well-tailored Ita- here?" My two escorts looked a lian who was supposed to be a trifle sheepish, and the elder spoke racketeer, but who ran a good line up, "Well, to tell the truth, he in suppers and floor-shows. I had met him in Europe a few years back and he had invited me to look him up.
The first performance of the
"Why not. We have agents all over the place and it is my job to visit them from time to time and ginger them up if necessary, also to report on local markets."
Then the senior F.B.I.' man looks so much like Carnaway spoke for the first time. "Captain and the English accent might be Brandane "I interrupted him. "Excuse me, I am not on the affected."
active list, just on the Reserve of officers and I never use my rank while I am in a civilian capacity." "That's just it, Captain Brandane, are you in
Then I recollected a little whis- per I had heard in San Francisco. "Colonel Culler will tell you pony-ballet was over when Car- miho came over to my table look that my name is Brandane and ing very worried. He was accom- that I am a British subject and panied by two young men in even- lave not anything to do with the ing clothes, both extremely it in United States Navy." appearance. They did not strike Culler I had met in Paris when me as detectives. and, for a sec- I was in the British service. A de- pnd, I wondered whether they cent, honest, simple soul, a trifle
Striking the right note...
Blacker, alías Andreas, was patently nervous. "Can you hurry a little and then we can get go- ing," he finally blurted out. "All
don't act so it right, all right, tery," I snarled,
I paid my bill and followed An- drcas out of the door. The uni- formed Swiss admiral waved to a waiting car, and I was driven of to a totally unknown destination in so far as I was concerned.
"If you were an American citizen, Mr. Brandane, I might ask you to put it in as evidence, but in your case, I think I would act like Brer Rabbit and say 'nuffin.'":
"Did you get Carnáway?" "Yes, he was caught by our cordon just after you went into the apartment
house."
I had had a narrow escape in- deed. Most of the spy ring were obvious rats, but the man Taki was dangerous. I had heard of him out East and had seen him in the uniform of the Japanese Naval Staff. He was of a very ancient Samural family, and it rather sur- prised me to find him in such com- pany. Then Forbes told me that
Carnaway had sold documents of really tremendous importance. a civilian capacity?" "Taki will be there," Andreas Their loss would mean the com- down by the American Naval De- "Indeed I am. Here is the name of assured me. "He has your share. plete revision of all plans laid my firm. It is internationally It came through this morning."
The car, came to a halt some- partment, which would have to be
ones adopted ́· known and advertises extensively where in the wilds of the Bronx, scrapped and new 'over here."
and we entered a shabby-looking in their place. Fortunately certain apartment hotel. I man was loung- inventions of considerable ing by the entrance, and he gave portance had not been relayed to Andreas an almost imperceptible Japan. They had been found in Taki's apartment in one of the
of "By the time he comes out
with a be new," said Forbes
"Oh, I know the firm all right, but some how or the other, I do not see a man like you as a com- mercial agent."
17
salute.
grim smile.
im-
"We all have to live," He smiled, We walked up two flights of more exclusive uptown hotels. then he said, "Would you mind re- stairs and entered а poorly- maining in New York for a day or furnished apartment. There were gaol, the inventions will no longer. two, just to oblige us. This is no five men seated in the main room. attempt to detain you and if you Three were drinking brandy, all are put to any extra expense, we were smoking. vill”.
I put up my hand, "My dear Blacker," said a Forbes, I shall be only too pleased and extending his hand. He was "Now you put it that way, Mr stumpy little fellow standing up to cooperate."
half-white, half-yellow. I had known him out East where played many parts and all of them dirty.
he
I returned to the F.B.I. head- quarters and was restored to my lunch with Forbes later that day normal condition. I promised to and returned to my hotel.
"How did you know my name"
In the reception hall, Carmano It was my turn to smile: "In my
was waiting for me. "I thought I business, we know things like
might get hold of you here," he that," I replied, and even staid old Andreas waved the hand aside, told me, his face very grave. "You You Culler grinned.
He was growing more and more did not fool me last night. Late next afternoon, Forbes nervous. "Mr. Taki," he said ad- are in grave danger. I overheard called at my hotel. He was a nice dressing a tallish distinctly aristo- something at Carlino's and was fellow and placed his cards on the critic man whose race was mani- on the point of telephoning the iest in his feautres, "now we are F.B., but that would never do
"Now
here in New York."
were of the 'mob,' but no: "We slow in the uptake at times. It are from the Department of Jus- was the marine captain who ask- Lice and would like to ask you ed me, sharply." "What do you a few questions," said the elder. So know about Roger Carnaway
"I dislike your tone, but I will I was in trouble and not, as I had imagined for a second, Carmano. answer you. He has been peddling "Sit down and tell me what you secrets to somebody who does not want," said I. "Who are you?" "My love Uncle Sam. So I was told in name is Brandane, I am a British San Fran. But, before I knew that, subject. I represent a very big I saw the man in Mexico City and firm and travel in foreign parts he saw me."
"He did not sell you anything?" for it."
the marine, still hostile, The elder of the pair, who had nsked taken the role of interrogator, then Well, I never did like marines of put it to me point blank: "Your any nationality, so I laughed at hame is not Roger Carnaway, is him and he grew very annoyed. it?" "No," "Are you related to him "I think, gentlemen, that there by any chance?" "No." "Would is no further reason for my re- you mind coming to our field office maining here. You may represent and talking to our local chief?" the F.B.I., the naval and military "Not in the slightest."
intelligence services, but I am a I tipped the waiter. Carmano British subject and resent at table.* had franked my bill already and tempts to tamper with my liberty."
look here, Brandane, all here, can we draw the dough for a man in my position. So I'm he watched me depart with trou- Then Culler spoke "Look here, would you help us trap Carnaway? and clear out. I have been jittery leaving some of my boys as a bled eyes. He really thought I was Captain Brandane. It is obvious I am not asking you to do any de- all day."
guard in the rooms near yours. F.B.I. You can
the go to a bad lad and was annoyed that you are not Carnaway..He is-or tective work or stool-pigeon busi- "You always have, been an
in the morning and tell he was powerless to help me; for was an American naval ofleerness, but I want you to be Carn- abominable coward, my dear An-
mob is even the cleverest racketeer does who is a traitor. But you have al- away for a few nights." I nodded. dreas," drawled Taki in an Eng- them that the Griffin
They must not buck Old Uncle Whiskers' ways been a bit of a stormy petrel. "Yes, I think I an see the set-up. lish accent that was perfect. "Well, after your scalp. bright boys. He was a friend in You were brought here in error. I He should contact his paymasters let us get this matter over as soon have been hired by your enemies. as possible. Most of you men have Now I must get back, as we have "We have reason to believe that been paid money in advance. You, a late sitting at the Carlino. You he will try to."
my dear Winston, have already will be quite safe. My boys are "Right-ho, I'm your man though touched five thousand dollars, I pretty tough sons." Without wait-
ing for me to thank Heaven knows why I should put believe.”
him, he
my neck out in the interests of
I nodded, sullenly. "Been un- strode off,
When I reached the corridor on Uncle Sam."
lucky at the tables?" he asked me. "The Old Gentleman will not Again I nodded. "Well, better luck which my bedroom was situated, prove ungrateful, Captain, I beg next time. You had better get out I brushed up against a well-dress- pardon, Mr. Brandane. Now if you of the States as soon as possible." ed youth with stone-hard eyes. will come with me, we will make He handed me a sheaf of bills. "Youse a pal of the bossis?" he a few alterations in your personal I thanked him curtly and turned asked. I told him I had just spoken appearance. Clothes do not matter, to go, when Andreas caught me to Carmano. "That's okle donkle," as Carnaway always bought Eng by the shoulder, "Come my way. he replied. "Now just you go to lish-cut plain clothes and only There is something I want to ask bed and sleep sound, pal, me an' donned uniform when he had to. you." He had received a small my friends'll see that nuffin hap- You can modify your accent a number of bills, being obviously pens to yer." little, and our expert will get to an unimportant member of the work on your manly countenance.' spy ring. We managed to find a cularly dangerous aggregation of Up at the F.B.I. office, they did prowling taxi and sped back down thugs who seemed to enjoy a cer- subtle things which, while not com- town. I was glad enough to have tain amount of political immunity. pletely changing my face, made the little rat with me. In a way, Anyway, the local New York police did not bother very much me better-looking. This Carnaway he was a protection. fellow appeared to be a bit of a I knew what was coming. It was about them. They had many kill- matinee hero type.
a touch. He only wanted a thou- ings to their discredit, and could The plan was that I should re- sand. He whined and pleaded, but be hired. The Griffin was an enig-
It was appear at Carmano's as Carnaway I would not ante up. Then he grew matic individual. and the hounds of the F.B.I. would nasty and I clipped him one. Not rumoured that he was a New York pretend not to be interested. In hard. He was smaller than I and a Society man. Nothing happened to fact, they would not appear at all coward. "It is no use your threat- me that night, but as I was emerg- until needed.
ening me," I told him, "else I'll ing from the hotel later in the Carmano greeted me in person tell the authorities about that little morning two of Carmano's lads gasped and apologised, "I thought business up in Maine, They would flanked me and all of a sudden you were someone else, sir," he call it murder in this country." one pushed, or, rather, knocked said in his well-modulated voice. "How on earth did you know me flat. He went down himself, "I have heard there was an that?" he gasped out, shrinking, whipping out a large automatic Englishman going about who look back in terror. "I read newspapers as he did so.. ed like me," I replied with just o and I can put two and two to- A spatter of bullets raked the touch of the harsh New England gether. You're a bad little rat, An- side-walk, but the three of us were dreas." "I didn't do it, I swear it." untouched. My two companions
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I
The Griffin mob was a parti-
even
Now Carlino's was fashionable "I believe you because I know were firing valiantly at the aggres- just then in New York. You were what a coward you are, but the sors who had attacked us from the not admitted unless in evening authorities would not believe you. vantage of a long black motor- clothes, and here you could see Your outward appearance. millionaires, socialities, politicians, enough to hang you,
Thanks, boys,” I said a trifle anyway." professional gamblers, big book "Where are you going now?" huskily, "I guess I owe you quite mokers, racketeers and plain com- "None of your business and don't a lot." "Oh, that's just one of these mon gangsters and their crime- try to shadow me." "I want to get things, pal," said the one I had bosges, let alone any number of out of New York with you" "I spoken to earlier on in the day, sweetic-pies in their best bib and don't want your company. That's
"Well, what about a drink," said tucker.
A dupper little man in well-cut 1 stopped the Jalopy and paid
"Now, you're talking," they re- evening clothes, and with quick, off the driver, who winked at me, plied in chorus, so I accompanied ́searching eyes, came and sat him- One of the F.B.I. boys. Just as An- them to one of their favourite self down at my table. "Mr. Wins- dreas turned to wander off with haunts, where I bethought me of ton? Yes? When did you get in reluctant footsteps, the driver said, the spy money I had obtained by from Mexico?" Hello, here was the "Hey, just a minute, buddie." The false pretences the day before. contact. The G-mon certainly had little man started babk, but the 1. retired to a place avhere good ideas.
driver had him in a steel grip: could not be observed and drew There's a gentleman, I know who out ten bills of a hundred dollars wants to have a talk with you." each from the fat sheaf. When I He turned to me just as Forbes was due to leave the lads to enter and two F.B,I, men hove into the building where the FBI. sight. "Will you come back to maintains its New York office, I
stuffed these into headquarters aleo, please."
their pockets, and they stood grinning and wav- Ing: Thanks a lot, pal," they chorused. Hod Carmano ordered · them to do so, they would have (Continued - on (Page 3).
"Last night late."
"Do you think it quite wise to leave there until the business has been settled?".
.
"Allow me to be judge or my own actions, my dear Andreas." He turned even paler than he ivas by natura, "Please, not that name. Mr. Blacker to you, please remember.”
I. had placed this man Andrens.
Forbes got into the taxi while Andreas was hauled off to an other vehicle, by Forbes's, com- panions.
"Good work, Mr. Brandone, very