Anthony Trent, Master Criminal

the banker climb the five steps to his front door at half past twelve. At half past one the lights were switched off in the bedroom on the second floor. At two the door

could not be a matter of certainty. Somewhere in this house was a lot of currency. And it might be in a safe. Old fashioned safes presented few difficulties, but your modern strong box is a different matter. Criminal investigator as he was, he kne

upward flight when a door suddenly opened, flooding the stairway with light. It was from a room above him. And there were steps coming along a corridor toward him. Feeling certain that the reception roo

other Mr. William Drummond was seated at a table. And Mr. Drummond held in his hand an ugly automatic of .38 calibre. Covering him with the weapon the banker came swiftly toward him. It was the unexpected mome

mmond, isn't i

napped, and then gave a start when he

ow why I said it but the other fellers said it wasn't right. I've come to shake

ward the lighted part of the room. He was frankly amazed. Wild as he was, and drunken as was his evening custom, w

aught his eye. Right on the table was what he sought. The only method of getting it would be to overpower Drummond. There were objections to this. The banker was armed and would certainly shoot. Or there might

w him with elaborate unconcern slide an even

your mind, Mr. Bu

to have said it. What I should have said was, 'Come

glance and a cold one. And there was the contempt i

s house when you want to apologize?"

or wasn't locked. Any one could get in. Burglars could break through and steal. Mo

system disconnected. It was not the first time that Drummond's man had forgotten it. In the morning he would be dismissed. Apparently this irresponsible yo

"some one was coming down the

was not yet satisfied that his visitor's story was wor

o and fi

on an elderly woman servant w

ot able to eat any luncheon or

the cover of a

," he grunted, "bad

e social advancement. Mrs. Clent Bulstrode could do it. Money would not buy recognition from her. Perhaps fear of exposure might. He glan

his eye that caused a certain uneasiness in the impostor's mind. In ano

nd you had not been a fellow clubman an unexpected call

d always interested him. Drummond watching his vacuous face saw

do yer

ve your story I doubt whether the police would. They are taught to be suspicious. There would be a lot of scandal. Your mother, for instance, would be upset. New York papers revel in that sort of thing. You have suppressed n

ed to amuse t

he suggested and made a lur

ed hastily, "I wouldn't hav

rehension gradually stealing. It was succeeded by a frown. An idea

nt, struggling to his feet. "When a gentleman comes

ver him threaten

rning you won't remember a word I've said to you. I'm going to make use of you, you young whelp. You've d

sandwiches would tell the jury we were conversing amiably. You'd swin

her didn't give up the Somerset Club because he liked the New York ones any better. Th

ing to drink?" Ant

flask. He did not want his guest to become too sober. Since it was the

rmured. "Henessey's a gent

t. "You've got to go home. I'm told there's a butler w

uckled. "He's a prohibi

to him and looked h

elephone numbe

flung the Bulstrode number back in a flash. "Ring him up," he

name?" Dru

d. Mrs. Kinney had told him of the nickn

grily. "His real na

." He put on an expression of obstinacy. "That's al

already snored in his own bed there must come the sudden physical struggle. And Drummond was armed. He had not failed to observe that the door to the entrance hall was locked. When Drummond had spoken to the servant outside he had take

ummond hesitatingly ask if he were speaking to Old Man Afraid of His

g him home. Also," his voice sank to a whisper, "I must speak to Mr. Bulstrode when I come. I shall be there within half an hour. He will be sorry all his days if he re

accuse Graham of breaking in to steal. He would remind the chastened father of several Boston scandals. He could see the Back Bay blue blood beg for mercy. And the end

stance was not great the two walked. Trent looked anxiously at every man they met when they neared the Bulstrode mansion. He feared to meet a man of his own build wearing a silk lined Inverness cape. It may be wondered why Anthony Trent, fleet of foot and in the shadow of the park across which his modest apartme

nce twice the size of Drummond's. The banker peered about the vast hall, gloomy in the

m so aptly filled him with indignation. He barely glanced at the man noisily climbing the stairs to his bedr

of his social responsibilities. The only New Yorkers he cared to k

eing summoned from my bed at this time of night to

his visito

earing either name. I can only hope your errand is

sly enough, at a time when there was a deal of loose cash in my room. Mr. Bulstrode, has he

look of fear pass over Bulstrode's contem

't do that?

ds," Drummo

noise of an automobile stopping outside the door. There was a honkin

see Old Man Afraid of His Wife assisting a young inebriate in evening dress. And his

ober. He touched his hat

ou come from?

tlemen to New H

en with you al

the chauff

clubman sneering, "I shall be glad to hear your explanation of your slander of

ought to explain. "A man dressed like you

s. By this time the butler was st

marked, "that these excuses you of

ses! I'll have you know that a father with a son

the room. There was an unpleasant expression o

said Bulstrode in his

have this house searched. We all saw that impostor go up

Graham came back in the motor. I was going to see what it was when the car came betwe

s master. He could see an unusual expr

at Mr. Graham values so much

do with that?" D

troduced this criminal to my house and I shall

the outraged Drum

for the police,"

hings broken so badly for William Drummond. He could feel the butler's baleful stare as he slowly crossed the great hall. He felt h

he closed the door he flung a conte

aid, "Old Man Afra

e by which they might have been lost and he had not removed the long duster. Only one man could have taken them. He called to mind how the staggering

esk. There, seemingly unmoved, was the paper that he had pulled over the notes when the unknown came into the room. It was when he raised it to see what