Page:Burton Stevenson--The marathon mystery.djvu/55

Rh walkin’ delegate with a red nose an’ a big black moustache, an’ ordered ‘em out on a strike. Them three that’s done are all full, though. Thompson had one; Tremaine an’ his wife’s got another, an’ two young sports what ’re lettin’ on t’ study art’s got th’ third—away up at th’ top with a skylight.”

Godfrey smoked on placidly. He suspected that Higgins had something more to tell, and he saw that the only way to get it was to wait with what patience he could. He was in no hurry; besides, he wanted time to think. He had not yet recovered from that shock of realising how he had gone wandering after a will-o’-the-wisp of his own creation. He had fancied himself astute…

The door opened; he heard Higgins utter a sharp cry of amazement. He looked up to see Simmonds-and with him another man, short, heavy-set, with a dark moustache. He caught the gleam of steel at his wrists.

Higgins was on his feet, staring.

“So you recognize him, do you?” asked Simmonds, his face seining with triumph. “I thought I couldn’t be wrong. I got him quicker ’n I expected, Godfrey; I didn’t even have to hunt for him. Of course, you know him?”

“How do you do, Mr. Godfrey?” said the prisoner politely. “Oh, yes, Mr. Godfrey knows me—he knows me too well to think I’d be mixed up in anything like this!”

“How are you, Jimmy?” returned Godfrey. “No, I didn’t suppose”

“Of course not!” said Jimmy, with scorn. “I