Anthony Trent, Master Criminal

as a man slightly below middle height, inclined to portliness, but bor

d when he hoped this tedious business was all over, he was brought before Inspector McWalsh and compelled to begin all over again. It was McWalsh's theory that a man may

of the terrors his name had inspired to the guilty. Austin gazed about him as though the surroundings were not to his taste. His attitude was one of defe

cose remarks as to Austin's personal appearanc

rary," the butler repeated patiently, "and asked Mr

ay?" demanded

nt anything and tha

you

" the butle

you the last thing

doors and window

ck eyes set in his heavy red face re

so, ten thousand dollars' worth of valuables was wal

e. I have my duties and I attend to them as my testimonials show. I don't presume to

h consisted mainly in terms of service to wealthy families in England and the United States. These p

servants' mark of contempt. And never before had the inspector bee

u, 'You can go to bed, Austin, I don't want anything,' so you locked up and retired. You didn't know anything about the burglary u

eturned. He was, plain

to it that Mr. Warr

nspector quickly. His

nowledge those were his words. I may have made a

here and lying to me?" The inspe

, "and I have not lied, although your manner has been mos

ioned him t

sted in what you think. Now answer this car

"but a claret-colored velvet smoki

s he lo

an in what

he looking as usual? Was there

old him, "but then his back was to

up and look 'em in the face like a man

itted himse

en as you are looking at me? Pardon me, s

lushed a

look at him in y

rs. I stood at the door as I usually do, asked a question I have done hundreds of times and received the same answe

Mr. Warr

paper and

as al

es

her servants ha

es

unusual soun

ould have inve

ou look like a man who would enjo

oy it," Austin re

beckoned to one

him and see he don't speak to his boss

briskly in. He was now about fifty, handsome still, but his florid face was marked by the convivial years. Inspector McWalsh had l

ary over the phone that you had some new light on this burglary.

He offered McWalsh one of his famous cigars. "Incidentally i

y. Warren smoked nothing but these s

that, Mr. Warre

ed in the thoroug

rs at old Sheepshead Bay I nearly resigned. Why, Mr. Warren, I made enough on

Newmarket sales in England. There's one of them-a chestnut colt named Saint Beau-who did a most remarkable trial a day or

sir," cried the

ial I gave a little dinner to a

l of them prominently known in

au cocktail. I give you my word, inspector, the thing has a thoro'bred kick to it. It's one of those damned insidious cocktails wrapped up in

idn't!" cr

eau cocktail made me so ill at four tha

did you g

he need of the cool air, s

past twelve

I had a table in the balcony and saw all

ferent story. You corroborated your butler's evidence that you were at home at half past twelv

ession soon with the supercilious Austin. He licked his lips at the thought. But

Warren lau

forget what happened the night before for the time being. That's what happened with me. I clean forgot the din

remember?" McW

edients of the cocktail which he claims I invented.

ught he was clever. He'll find out just how smart he is! Tell

hand to a head

m out in a lie yet. He's too damn conceited to desce

he lied to me and-ten thousand dollars' worth of stuff was s

Warren better than any American with whom he had taken service. The hearty, horse-loving type was one which appealed to A

r began. "The inspector seems to

e knows it,"

e hasty, sir," said

ou found Mr. Warren in his library at half pa

er returned, "

Mr. Warren in a kindly tone, "is simply this.

oked unco

than a word. You waved your a

he inspector. "You said something

hand impatient like. On Wednesday he may have asked for cigars or the evening papers. I remember only that on this occasion I was not asked for anything." H

Inspector McWalsh, "

ir," said Austin without em

Warren. "You told the police that you saw me sitting i

big turkish rocker, smoking one of the cigars you

at was!" Warren commented. "It wasn't I at

me Austin was ac

stammered. "It looked lik

and looked in his face you'd have se

d at the spe

ved then I'm guilty. I admit I didn't look very closely. I was sleepy and wanting to get

ootman of the people who called at Mr. Warren's house ye

owly, "an intimate friend of Mr. Warren's, bu

ught you knew every one who was intimate en

all, about your height, but dark in coloring with a rather larg

any one like that,

is point, "who bet you ten thousand dollars that hi

arren a little crossly, "I'm in possession of my fu

n," cried McWalsh gleefully. "See wha

usly, "you remember asking a gentlem

ster declared, "I aske

ed by. He was very merry. He was calling you 'C

eturned, impressed with the earne

butler answered. "I was ju

rren's voice?" McWal

n ref

swear to it,

was it?" Wa

fter ten,"

e heard me. I was at Voisin's from half past eight until

e turned back as if you had called him from your room. He said, 'What is it, Connie?' then he walked down the corridor and stood half way in y

Didn't Yogotama see him when he went to my room to get my smoking jacket w

lained Austin, "that Y

wasn'

your note he went

orse," Warren asserted

I saw it. You told him to go instantly to your camp and prepare it for immediate occupancy

left the house,"

ama a half hour to pr

of it, inspector

other, "but he can't pull anything like

sture implying doubt. I

't think

rent. It may be easy enough for a man to deceive you people by pretending to be a gentleman but we can see through them. Fran

s was a new and rebellious Austin, a man chafing

to Inspector McWalsh," he com

, "but how would you like to be ca

se servants. What you've got to do is to look through our collection of pic

the faces with

a member of Mr. Warren's clubs, the kind of gentleman who dines at the house. These," and he pointed derisive

sh sn

ore like polic

smiled

ing that was