Page:O'Higgins--The Adventures of Detective Barney.djvu/317

 “What were you doing when he came up to you?”

“Watchin’ fer the Brooklyn fellah.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“I—I dunno.”

“As a matter of fact, you were n’t thinking of anything, were you? Mind perfectly blank?”

Barney did not answer, and Babbing wheeled around in the chair to face him. As their eyes met, Barney turned pale.

“Got another hunch, have you?” Babbing said fiercely.

Barney stiffened to meet the shock.

“You ’re fired,” Babbing said. “Sit down.”

Barney stumbled and sat down weakly in the chair.

“You ’re fired for leaving your post without permission.”

Barney pleaded chokingly: “Well, gee, Chief—”

Babbing stopped him with a gesture.

“I ’m going to see this man Baxter,