the drums of jeopardy-第24章
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engineer's … dungarees； touched up his face and hands to the
required griminess； and sallied forth。
Luck attended him until he reached the last morning newspaper on the
list。 Here he was obliged to proceed to the city room … risky
business。 A queer advertisement coming into the city room late at
night was always pried into； as he knew from experience。 Still； he
felt that he ought not to miss any chance to reach Karlov。
He explained his business to the sleepy gate boy； who carried the
advertisement and the cash to the night city editor's desk。
Ordinarily the night city editor would have returned the
advertisement with the crisp information that he had no authority
to accept advertisements。 But the 〃drums of jeopardy〃 caught his
attention； and he sent a keen glance across the busy room to the
rail where Cutty stood； perhaps conspicuously。
〃Humph！〃 He called to one of the reporters。 〃This looks like a
story。 I'll run it。 Follow that guy in the overalls and see what's
in it。〃
Cutty appreciated the interlude for what it was worth。 Someone was
going to follow him。 When the gate boy returned to notify him that
the advertisement had been accepted； Cutty went down to the street。
〃Hey； there； just a moment！〃 hailed the reporter。 〃I want a word
with you about that advertisement。〃
Cutty came to a standstill。 〃I paid for it； didn't I？〃
〃Sure。 But what's this about the drums of jeopardy？〃
〃Two great emeralds I'm hunting for；〃 explained Cutty； recalling
the man who stood on London Bridge and peddled sovereigns at two
bits each； and no buyer。
〃Can it！ Can it！〃 jeered the reporter。 〃Be a good sport and give
us the tip。 Strike call among the city engineers？〃
〃I'm telling you。〃
〃Like Mike you are！〃
〃All right。 It's the word to tie up the surface lines； like Newark；
if you want to know。 Now； get t' hell out o' here before I hand
you one on the jaw！〃
The reporter backed away。 〃Is that on the level？〃
〃Call up the barns and find out。 They'll tell you what's on。 And
listen； if you follow me； I'll break your head。 On your way！〃
The reporter dashed for the elevator … and back to the doorway in
time to see Cutty legging it for the Subway。 As he was a reporter
of the first class he managed to catch the same express uptown。
On the way uptown Cutty considered that he had accomplished a shrewd
bit of work。 Karlov or one of his agents would certainly see that
advertisement； and even if Karlov suspected a Federal trap he would
find some means of communicating with the issuer of the advertisement。
The thought of Kitty returned。 What the dickens would she say … how
would she act … when she learned who this Hawksley was？ He fervently
hoped that she had never read 〃Thaddeus of Warsaw。〃 There would
be all the difference in the world between an elegant refugee Pole
and a derelict of the Russian autocracy。 Perhaps the best course to
pursue would be to say nothing at all to her about the amazing
discovery。
Upon leaving Elevator Four Cutty said： 〃Bob； I've been followed by
a sharp reporter。 Sheer him off with any tale you please； and go
home。 Goodnight。〃
〃I'll fix him； sir。〃
Cutty took a bath； put on his lounging robe； and tiptoed to the
threshold of the patient's room。 The shaded light revealed the
nurse asleep with a book on her knees。 The patient's eyes were
closed and his breathing was regular。 He was coming along。
Cutty decided to go to bed。
Meantime； when the elevator touched the ground floor； the operator
observed a prospective passenger。
〃Last trip； sir。 You'll have to take the stairs。〃
〃Where'll I find the engineer who went up with you just now？〃
〃The man I took up？ Gone to bed； I guess。〃
〃What floor？〃
〃Nothing doing； bo。 I'm wise。 You're the fourth guy with a subpoena
that's been after him。 Nix。〃
〃I'm not a lawyer's clerk。 I'm a reporter； and I want to ask him a
few questions。〃
〃Gee！ Has that Jane of his been hauling in the newspapers？
Good…night！ Toddle along； bo； there's nothing coming from me。 Nix。〃
〃Would ten dollars make you talk？〃 asked the reporter； desperately。
〃Ye…ah … about the Kaiser and his wood…sawing。 By…by！〃
The operator； secretly enjoying the reporter's discomfiture； shut
off the lights； slammed the elevator door to the latch； and walked
to the revolving doors； to the tune of Garry Owen。
The reporter did not follow him but sat down on the first step of
the marble stairs to think； for there was a lot to think about。 He
sensed clearly enough that all this talk about street…railway strikes
and subpoenas was rot。 The elevator man and the engineer were in
cahoots。 There was a story here； but how to get to it was a puzzler。
He had one chance in a hundred of landing it … tip the mail clerk in
the business office to keep an eye open for the man who called for
〃Double C〃 mail。
Eventually； the man who did call for that mail presented a card to
the mail clerk。 At the bottom of this card was the name of the
chief of the United States Secret Service。
〃And say to the reporter who has probably asked to watch … hands
off！ Understand？ Absolutely … off！〃
When the reporter was informed he blew a kiss into air and sought
his city editor for his regular assignment。 He understood； with the
wisdom of his calling； that one didn't go whale fishing with trout
rods。
CHAPTER XV
Early the next morning in a bedroom in a rooming house for aliens
in Fifteenth Street； a man sat in a chair scanning the want columns
of a newspaper。 Occasionally he jotted down something on a slip
of paper。 This man's job was rather an unusual one。 He hunted
jobs for other men … jobs in steel mills； great factories； in the
textile districts； the street…car lines； the shipping yards and
docks； any place where there might be a grain or two of the powder
of unrest and discontent。 His business was to supply the human
matches。
No more parading the streets； no more haranguing from soap boxes。
The proper place nowadays was in the yard or shop corners at
noontime。 A word or two dropped at the right moment； perhaps a
printed pamphlet； little wedges wherever there were men who wanted
something they neither earned nor deserved。 Here and there across
the land little flares； one running into the other； like wildfire
on the plains； and then … the upheaval。 As in Russia； so now in
Germany； later； England and France and here。 The proletariat was
gaining power。
He was no fool； this individual。 He knew his clay； the day labourer；
with his parrotlike mentality。 Though the victim of this peculiar
potter absorbs sounds he doesn't often absorb meanings。 But he
takes these sounds and respouts them and convinces himself that he
is some kind of Moses； headed for the promised land。 Inflammable
stuff。 Hence； the strikes which puzzle the average intelligent
American citizen。 What is it all about？ Nobody seems to know。
Once upon a time men went on a strike because they were being cheated
and abused。 Now they strike on the principle that it is excellent
policy always to be demanding something； it keeps capitalism where it
belongs … on the ragged edge of things。 No matter what they demand
they never expect to give an equivalent； and a just cause isn't
necessary。 Thus the present…day agitator has only one perplexity
… that of eluding the iron hand of the Department of Justice。
Suddenly the man in the chair brought the newspaper close up and
stared。 He jumped to his feet； ran out and up the next flight of
stairs。 He stopped before a door and turned the knob a certain number
of times。 Presently the door opened the barest crack； then it was
swung wide enough to admit the visitor。
〃Look！〃 he whispered； indicating Cutty's advertisement。
The occupant of the room snatched the newspaper and carried it to a
window。
Will purchase the drums of jeopardy at top price。 No questions
asked。 Address this office。
Double C。
〃Very good。 I might have missed it。 We shall sell the accursed
drums to this gentleman。〃
〃Sell them？ But … 〃
〃Imbecile！ What we must do is to find out who
