Page:Arthur Stringer - The Hand of Peril.djvu/120

 is our case." Kestner crossed quickly to the window and glanced out. "Look at that rain. You'll be rubber-coated up to the ears and he doesn't dream of your chauffeur days in that old Poirret picture-smuggling case. You'll drive him up to Dirlam's to meet Tarbeau and Kilvert in a private room there. He may tell you to strike up Broadway and stick to the white lights. But you've got to go by way of Central Park, and then swing in to the drinking-fountain between the north end of the Mall and the West Seventy-second Street entrance. We'll cover that route in a taxi, as soon as we get out of here, to make sure of our lay-out. But to-night, once you get Lambert as far as that fountain, you've got to stall there. Make it engine-trouble, or anything you like. But hold him there until I get my chance to get into that taxicab. Here's a gun and a pair of handcuffs. It's ten to one you won't need to use either of them, but we've got to guard against a tailer coming up and interfering. These two extra pair of cuffs I'll keep for myself, for later in the evening."

Wilsnach watched him as he slipped the pair of polished double rings back in his pocket.

"Remember," repeated Kestner, "that I'll attend to Lambert. All you've got to do is to hold any one off from interfering, and get under way again, once I'm sure of my man."

"Under way for where?"

"Down the West Drive of the Park to Columbus Circle, dropping me and the club bag as soon as I can pick up another taxi. There'll be a federal tailer with the Department pass-word waiting at the Maine