CHAPTER XIV
TRAPPED
West smiled pleasantly, glad the man had taken the initiative, thusnaturally opening up a way for asking certain questions. Whatever his ownimmediate object might be in thus scraping an acquaintance made nodifference. It would doubtless develop in time, but meanwhile here wasthe opportunity sought to discuss the affairs of the neighbourhood. Yetthe subject must be approached with due caution. The very indifference ofthe bar-tender coupled with the evident desire of this hanger-on to forman acquaintance, served to reveal the real nature of "Mike's Place."Plainly enough strangers were viewed with suspicion, and this was noordinary saloon, catering to whatever trade drifted within its doors.More than likely it was rather a thieves' hang-out, ever suspicious ofthe activity of the police.
Yet this fellow bore no outward semblance to the common conception of theunder-world. Nor did his actions or words exhibit any motive other thanordinary good-fellowship. He was well dressed, easy of manner, with anexceptionally intelligent face, blue eyes meeting West's gaze frankly, acarefully trimmed moustache, with white teeth good humouredly showingwhen he smiled, and threads of grey in his hair. His very appearanceinvited confidence and comradeship, while his outspoken words increasedthis impression.
"Excuse my butting in," he explained genially. "But it's damn dull aroundhere tonight. Nobody to talk with but a couple o' bums. You see I don'tbelong around here; just dropped in for a bit of business with Mike."
"I see," admitted West, puzzled, and wondering how far he dared venture."You can get lonelier in a big city than anywhere else."
"You bet you can. I like some one I can talk to; some guy with ideas. Yousee I run a broker's office down town, an' its pretty blame slow around adump like this--you get me?"
"Sure; this seems to be a pretty quiet place."
"Quiet! Hell! it isn't always so quiet. I've dropped in here when it waslively enough, believe me. But tonight it's the limit. Fact is I come upfor a little excitement, as much as anything else, but must have struckan off night. You're a smoke inspector, Mike says?"
West nodded.
"Know Fred Karvan, I suppose?"
"Oh, yes; friend of yours?"
"Used to be; we were kids together down on the southside. He's got apretty soft job now; stands in strong with the City Hall, they tell me.Mean to drop in and see him some of these days."
"You'll find him a mighty good fellow," asserted West to whom the namewas entirely unfamiliar.
"Well, I'm not so sure about that. He's got pretty stiff the last fewyears they tell me. But then you work under him, and ought to know. Headof your department, isn't he?"
"Yes, but I only meet him in a business way, of course."
"Sure; but that is the way you get to know them best. Been a soldier,haven't you?"
"Yes, but what made you think that?" in some surprise at the unexpectedquery. The man laughed, lighting a cigar carelessly.
"Oh, it has not been so long since, that the evidence is obliterated.I've got a habit of noticing things. The way you sit, and square yourshoulders told me you'd been in uniform; besides you're the right age.Get across to France?"
"Had over a year there," wondering what the fellow could be anglingafter. "You didn't get in?"
"No; I was over the limit. I was thinking you might be interested inlooking over a collection of war relics Mike has got stowed away heresomewhere. He had two boys over there, and I reckon they must have put inmost of their time gathering up souvenirs. Anyhow they brought back thegreatest collection of war junk I've ever seen. Say, Mike, what did youdo with those war relics the boys sent home?"
The fellow addressed leaned over the bar, his face glowing withsudden interest.
"They vas in the back-room, all spread out. Why you ask? The gentlemenwould see them, what?"
"Yes; this one was a soldier himself. Maybe he can tell more about themthan the boys could. How is it? You fellows like to see the things?"
West hesitated for just an instant, his eyes turning unconsciously towardSexton, who had not spoken. He felt no suspicion, merely a vague doubt asto what this invitation might conceal. Yet it had all been naturalenough, and promised an opportunity for him to learn something more ofthe place. An accident might reveal the very discovery he was eagerlyseeking. Besides there could be no danger; both he and Sexton were armed,and apparently the invitation was innocently extended. To refuse toaccept would be churlish.
"Certainly," he said at last, quaffing the last of his beer andrising to his feet. "It will be nothing new to me, I imagine, butwe'll have a look."
The other man, who had been leaning against the bar, had disappeared,while the fellow at the table had seemingly fallen asleep. Mike cameforward with a bunch of keys in his hand.
"I keep dot room locked," he exclaimed gruffly, "for some beoples run offwith all dings they get their fingers on. Hey, you, Carl," and he roughlyshook the sleeper into semi-consciousness, "wake up, and see to the barawhile. I've got some business. Whoever comes, you keep themhere--understand. All right, gents."
The three stood close behind him as Mike inserted the key, and opened thedoor. It was already growing dusk without, and the tightly closed room,with shade drawn at the single window, was so dark that West couldscarcely discern its shape and contents. Mike, without hesitation,stepped within, his great bulk blotting out whatever view there was.
"Come right in, gents," he insisted. "Von minute, an' I turn onthe light."
West never understood why he responded so recklessly to this invitation,and advanced without hesitation. He had no suspicion of any trick, noconception of being in any danger. He stepped in directly behind theleader, and Sexton followed. An instant later, the door closed, with thesharp click of a night latch, and Mike flashed on the light. As he didso, he wheeled about, and shot one mighty clinched fist straight intoWest's face. This was done so suddenly, so unexpectedly, the manattacked found no opportunity to even throw up a hand in self-defence.The giant Pole flung his whole weight into the crashing blow, and theex-soldier went down as though struck by a pole-ax. For an instant, herealized that Sexton was in a fierce struggle; that his assailant stoodpoised above him ready to land again if he moved; then consciousnessleft him entirely.
He woke up, sitting in a chair, his hands bound to the arms with stripsof cloth. For a moment everything about seemed tinged with yellow, thevarious objects in sight vague and shapeless. It hurt him to move hishead, and his mind functioned dully. He could not think, or bring back tomemory a recollection of what had occurred. Yet slowly the mist clearedand the objects about him assumed natural form. He was in a room of somesize--not the one in which he had been attacked he felt sure--fitted upwith a long table, and a number of chairs. There was no other furniture;the walls were bare, and only a small rag rug partially covered thefloor. At first he perceived no other occupants; only as, painfully, hefinally twisted his head to the right, his eyes distinguished two menseated against the wall. The sight of their faces restored instantly hismemory of what had occurred. The Pole rested back, with feet on the tableand eyes closed, but the other--the younger man--was watching himclosely, an unlighted cigar gripped in his teeth.
"So, you've come out of it," the latter said unpleasantly. "I'd begun tothink Mike had handed you a real knock-out that time. Ready to answer afew questions?"
West, his brain clearing rapidly, sat up straighter in the chair,determined to play out his part the best he could.
"Perfectly ready," he replied struggling to control his voice. "Only Ishould like to know what all this means? Why attack me?"
"You'll find that out soon enough, Captain; but first I'll do thequestioning."
"Not until I know one thing, at least--what has become of the man whowas with me?"
"Well, I might as well tell you," carelessly. "He got hurt; the foolcompelled me to hit him with a gat; so he's out of it, and you might aswell come through clean--that guy isn't going to help you any."
"You mean you killed him?"
&
nbsp; "Well, he's out of the game; that's enough. And as for you, your bestplay right now is to talk up straight." He laughed sneeringly, "Unlessyou want to call up your friend Karvan, at the City Hall, you know. Hell,but you was easy!"
"Easy?"
"That's what I said. I knew you all right when you first blew in, only Iwasn't quite sure. Just had a glimpse of you once before. I naturallyguessed your smoke-inspector stunt was a sham. So, I ran that Fred Karvanstuff in on you. You ate it up, which gave you clean away, for I neverknew any guy of that name. Do you see the point, Captain West?"
"Yes, I see all that plainly enough, but it does not explain the attackon me. You evidently know my name, and this assault has beendeliberately made. Why? What have you against me? I have never seeneither of you before."
"Perhaps I'll tell you when you explain. What brought you into thisneighbourhood. Hunting some one, wasn't you?"
"Not exactly."
"Oh, don't lie; that will bring you nothing, West. You were sticking yournose into a private matter which does not concern you in any way. That'sright, isn't it? Very well, you've had your lesson, and now it is simplyup to you to either drop this thing, or else take another. It's up to youhow far we go. Now listen. I believe it was merely curiosity that broughtyou here. That's true, isn't it?"
"Largely, yes."
"You suspected something, and wanted to find out if it was so. Well, youcame into a bad neighbourhood. We are not nice to your kind around here.What really caused your seeking me?"
"I do not know that I did," West answered honestly. "In fact I haven'tthe slightest idea who you are."
The other laughed.
"So you are as green as that. Then I'll give you the information. Myname is Hobart, Jim Hobart. I am the guy you were looking for?"
"Yes," West admitted, seeing no reason to refuse an answer.
"I thought so, although darned if I know how you ever located me here.However, the sooner we come to some understanding, the better. What doyou know about me?"
"Nothing."
"Is that so! You knew my name when I spoke it. It was the Coolidge matterthat sent you hunting me. Oh, hell, you might as well cough up, West, forI've got your number. You thought the girl was here, didn't you?"
"I had reason to believe she came here."
"I see; how did you gain that news?"
"A conversation by telephone was overheard."
"Now we are getting down to facts. And this comprises your entireinformation, doesn't it? Let's check up. You connected me with the casebecause you were with the uncle and her on their call Sunday. Youdiscovered in some way that I had since disappeared from thatneighbourhood. Then you accidentally got on to this telephone call, anddecided to run me down. Some cute little detective, I'll say. But what'sthe object? What is it you are trying to connect me up with? Whatpossible cause can you have for butting in on this affair?"
"I told you before; merely curiosity."
"And who was the guy with you?"
"An old servant of the Coolidge family."
"It was mere curiosity in his case also, I presume?"
"So far as I know, yes."
Hobart smiled, showing his teeth cruelly.
"West," he said slowly, "you are a damned good liar, but I am about tospike your gun. Go on out Mike, and send in the first witness."