Christopher and the Clockmakers

began, "while your back was turned, you

r," objected Hollings. "I m

a pair of thieves the

dly see

it

deeply sorry, sir; and yet had I

saw the whole thing, you know. It was done so

he deep voice of the inspector. "Now, Mr. Burton, instead of wasting time

en aback at being treated with such scant ceremony. "This is

your tale first. Relate exactly what happened-no

ill,

as he recounted it, Mr. Inspector jotted it down,

n?" inquired he, when th

toring coats, and kept their collars pretty well turned up. You see I was f

not identif

couldn't. I might possibly recognize

o tried on

s,

out from a group of others o

I cou

your work you shoul

ld. I will be

ctor smil

he pasture," commented he. "Well, if this is all

opher B

ton, fourth," interrupted hi

the inspector, his eyes fixed on th

raid it

"Afraid! Why, it is a fine, honorable name.

id the inspector, unceremoniously putting an end to Mr

s,

ve the whole of it

there are suc

pector

version of this affair. Relate exa

do much," protested C

o goodness you had. However, you acted with conside

. "It seemed to me afterward that I had been very stu

arked more gently than he had yet spoken. "You did well

y and it was evident several parts afforded his critical lis

ood! Ve

d, Christopher p

iption of these fellows?" hi

tall, heavy, had light hair and a bald spot on

elle

d on his right cheek, going from his ear almost to the co

ed from his seat, t

e said. "And th

much too big for him. His nose was sharp

hing

were dirty as if they had been in ink or gre

tor beamed

Mr. Burton, very! He's a fine

elped you

me precisely the inf

you could ide

them a

y are?" gaspe

es

pert was enjoying the

know their names," p

, for they have almost as long a

joke, for he laughed heartily at it without n

their pictures as well," he continued, when he

ed Mr. Burton, his disapproval mollifie

they prove to be the couple I think them. No wonder your cl

lings put in. "They had a mi

is sort of thing. They are wanted this minut

all

lly beheld two such desperate characters and given evidence agai

probably shadowed his bro

well armed and prepared to make their escape. Taken by surprise, as you clerks all were, no one

Poor Hollings drew

ey had their pistols and a waiting mot

yelled from

h they would instantly have acted. As it is, we know them, and our nets are out. I would, however, like to take your son down

pher. I believe I'll go along too, Mr. Inspector, if you a

ns; I have

se I could per

business, sir. However, you are very kind. I must

s

ntinued he, tapping an envelope he held in his hand. "S

es

ess that's

nk you will

? I can't tell you that, sir.

It was a fool

was of the same opinio

nnounced the great man, turning

e recovered, sir. I shall not h

e. The case is in their keeping no

say anything. But as the group rose to depart, he dragged himself up out

to you, I

k you

ief entered the elevator and afterward

hich he had not the slightest trouble in picking that of the man wit

here," lamented Christopher. "His

the inspector

wig, did he?" He opened a drawe

ristopher a han

choosing one out of the lot. "There he

d up. The reason you didn't recognize him was because in the other picture he wasn't. Clothes do not make the man, but wigs, gla

Burton, rising. He wasn't used to being dismissed in this curt fashi

taining hand. "You've done uncommonly well, sonny," he whispered. "Don't worry because you didn't land

ave to go

as straight a story as you needn't fear that. It

mind you

fret about being haled into court. Several persons besides ourselves wish to meet those two distinguished gentlemen we are after. When we get the

was loitering impatiently o

her! Chri

corridor. He isn't used to it. Better trot along, sonny. Somebo

that he found something intensely humorous about Mr. Christopher Mark