Page:O'Higgins--The Adventures of Detective Barney.djvu/197

 appearance of innocence; and he only lost his temper for a moment when Barney could not be made to understand that he was to wait in the taxi while the others went into the Cranmer Building. That young dummy (at a sign from Corcoran) insisted on accompanying them to the detective offices, making an effort to show his father’s letter every time that Tip tried to turn him back. Tip did not wish that document exposed, under the circumstances. He had to let Barney follow, in order to prevent him from appealing to Corcoran with the letter.

It was Archibald, impersonating Babbing, who received them at Babbing’s desk. He broke the news to Meyers that he and his driver, Gus Kane, were “wanted” on a charge of attempting to kidnap Barney Cook, son of Adam Cook, who had retained the Bureau to protect his son from a repetition of his Chicago adventure. (“Good night!” Kane said.) And Barney, still worrying about his rendezvous with his affectionate parent,