Page:The ransom of Red Chief and other O. Henry stories for boys.djvu/261

Rh guying you or whether you're being offered the biggest scoop your dull dishrag of a paper ever had? Well, that's so; it's a bobtail scoop—but you can hardly expect me to 'phone in my name and address. Why? Oh, because I heard you make a specialty of solving mysterious crimes that stump the police. No, that's not all. I want to tell you that your rotten, lying, penny sheet is of no more use in tracking an intelligent murderer or highwayman than a blind poodle would be. What? Oh, no, this isn't a rival newspaper office; you're getting it straight. I did the Norcross job, and I've got the jewels in my suit case at—'the name of the hotel could not be learned'—you recognize that phrase, don't you? I thought so. You've used it often enough. Kind of rattles you, doesn't it, to have the mysterious villain call up your great, big, all-powerful organ of right and justice and good government and tell you what a helpless old gas-bag you are? Cut that out; you're not that big a fool—no, you don't think I'm a fraud. I can tell it by your voice. Now, listen, and I'll give you a pointer that will prove it to you. Of