Children of the Whirlwind

as in bed, his tone and his words came back to her and stirred a strange uneasiness in her mind. Barney was angr

kfast coffee, she met Larry in the Duchess's room behind the

en't you ever going

of Barney's savage yet unformulated threat. The warning

led Larry. "Why, what's the m

no way and to have no dealings with him, were stronger than

said, and brushed past him

street. But as he neared his grandmother's house all such thought was banished by Detective Gavegan of the Central Office stepping from the pawnshop and blocking the door w

you look tickled! Did the Duchess give you a bigger loan

egan slipped his left arm through Larry's right. "You

fened. "Co

quart

Gavegan, and you know it!

egan. "And now the Chief wants to have a little personal t

, and I'll not go!

nd, its thong about his wrist, was a short leather-covered object filled with lead. "I've got my orders, and you'll come pe

ight arm, with that bone-crushing slug-shot itching for instant use, was apparently master in the present circumstances. Bu

was now on Larry's left side, a heavy-faced man in a bla

o, I'll go-for you're one white copper, even if you do have

d the office of Deputy Commissioner Barlow, Chief of the Detective Bureau. Barlow was talking over the telephone in a growling staccato, and the three men sat down. After a moment Barlow banged the receiver upon

apped, "here you are ag

straight game, Chi

put that old b

, Chief. It's

ever since? And if you are going straight, what about the session you had with Barney Palmer and Old Jimmie Carlisle the very night you

that I was through with the old game, and through with them as pals at the old game-that's all there was to that meeting. I'm going to that business i

rded Larry steadily with his beady, autocratic eyes. Barlow was trained to pene

oing to go straight," Barlow

arry returned evenly, meeting squarel

e measured, significant tone, "that whether you go strai

hat a little c

d you that; and all the classy crooks trust you. That's why I had picked you out for what I wanted long before you left stir. Brainard, you're wise enough to know that some of our best pinches come from tips handed us from the inside. Brainard"-the slow

could hardly believe this thing which was being prop

ou are suggesting that

ou pull off on your own we'll not bother you about. And, be

n exchange," Larry asked qui

t's

is all of strength to con

small objections to yo

es

, I shall not

t's

ou even if I were a crook. And the third is what I

l figure arose menacing

t crashed down on his desk in a tremendous exclamation poi

iven you my final

red, his breath came in a fluttering snarl, his powerful shoulders hunch

your ult

re to call

ot be able to hold a job in New York! My men will see to that. And here's another high card. You do as I've said, or I'll hang some

spirit of criminals; and he knew that nothing so roused Barlow as opposition from a man he considered in his power. Close beside the Chief he saw the gloat

mistook Larry's silence for wavering, or

s safe for you. I'm going to have Gavegan and Casey watch you, and if in the next few days you don't begin to string along with Barney and Old J

th police power to know that it would help him not at all to permit an eruption

have been instantly roused to caution had he known that Barney Palmer had this hour and more been following him in a taxicab, and t

at Headquarters to Hunt and the Duchess. The painter

you were facing a tough proposition!" exclaimed Hunt. "

is pals ask him to be a crook, and are sore because he won't be a crook. The police ask h

epeated Hunt. "What

ermination. "I'm going to keep on doing exactly w