The Ear in the Wall

nt young woman with an engaging smile opened the

ig inquired, coming

t only her features and eyes that showed intelligence, but her gown showed that without sacrificing neatness she had deliberately toned down the existing fashions which so admirably

few years of experience had decided that there was a field for an independent woman detective who would appeal particularl

there are such things. I wondered just how they would hit it off together. For the moment, at least

told me that he received an anonymou

her that she was different; in fact, almost from the start I felt that she was indispensable. She seemed to have that ability to go straight to the point at issue, a sort of faculty of intuition which is often more valuable than anything else, the ability to feel or sense things for which at first there was no actual proof. No good detective ever lacks that sor

"Of course, having been closely in touch with this sort of thing for several months in my work, I have

it is a good tip

h character who seems to be connected with the people there, my investigators tell me. It is a fellow named 'Ike the Dropper,' one of those strong-arm men who have migrated up from the East Side to the White Light District. At least my inves

of the rest of the

Mr. Kahn, a clever enough attorney who has a large theatrical clientele and none too savoury a reputation as a local politician. The banker may be Mr. Langhorn

exchanged glan

etty Blackwell, care of the Little Montmartre-or perhaps you had better do the

l I write?

e, that you have heard she was at the Montmartre-anything. The actual

wrote a little note

ing into a drawer of his desk and bringing

stamped the letter and

all?" he asked. "Then we will pla

lad to do so,

e general post-office to ensure its more prompt delivery, and it was on its

inted with this Little Montmartre," he remarked. "I s

e is nothing that we would welcome more than evide

ssed by the frankness and

move against the place that would excite suspicion, we might at least find out what it is that we ar

we shall be laying our plans right in the heart of the enemy's country and they will never realize

ase of the game which she had been playin

as, as I already knew,

ff Broadway, eight or t

nd for all the world e

hostelries of the f

the accepted method of entering with eclat. A boy opened the door. I jumped out and sett

corated with large palms set at intervals, quite the equal in luxuriousness, though on a smaller scale, of any of the larger and well-known hotels.

a chair for her. Farther down the corridor I could see the office, and beyond a large main dining-room from which strain

tentatiously slipping a quarter into his hand, which closed over the coin almo

whole atmosphere of the place was beyond his years. "I'll get him in a minute, sir. He's in the m

ople passing and repassing in the corrido

d or two with Kennedy followed, during which a greenback changed hands-in fact that seemed to be the

corridor leading the way to a large apartment, or rather a suite of rooms, as handsomely furnished as any in other hote

d against opposite walls. Another, smaller room was furnished very attractively as a sitting-room. Deep, easy chairs stood

t that was very romantic and fascinating. From a curtained window that opened upon an interior court we c

aiter brought a menu, imposing in

waiter disappeared as silently as he had responded to the bell. It was a phrase that stuck in

ail. The care and attention devoted to us could not have be

nstairs in the kitchen, "the Little Montmartre makes a brave showing. I suppose it will be some time before th

dall, "risque from the m

re were complete detachment between herself a

ice anything particularly downstairs? I'd l

e hotel office as we left the recep

g sm

. Well, I suppose if a man likes that sort of girl that's the sort of girl he likes. T

ker. It all seems to run so smoothly, too. Still, I'm sure that our investigators might get something on the place if they kept right after

'Dr. Vernon Harris, M. D.' You recall that the letter said something about a doctor who was very friendly with that clique the writer

te right," she agreed. "Just how

ching anyway, without our needing more than the fact that he is here. Naturally we don't know anything about him as a d

something about d

list-it fills the till of the Montmartre, judging by the prices. But then, alcohol palls when the pace is as swift as it seems to be here. Even more essential are drugs. You know, after all, it is no wonder so many drug fiends and drunkards are created b

ous sections of the city where they hang out. I know one who is deeply in the local politics and

more or less to do with watching the pr

the old knockout drops-chloral, you know-but modern drugs, not so powerful, perhaps, but more insidious, and in that respect, I suppose, more dangerous. There are cocaine fiends, opium smokers; oh, lots of

ng as others, but it is here-yes, and it is over on Fifth Avenue, too, right in societ

red. The door stayed open for a moment as the bus boy carried in the dishes. A rustle of skirts and low

g-rooms are there?" ask

ller," replied the model waiter, with the air of on

were lucky

hone first to Julius to make sure and

oom were hilariously ordering, mostly from the wine list. None of us

ttle, although the

ere and not see the who

excuse me while I drop

ngratiate myself with

to Langhorne's office

ts, but I thought that Miss Kendall seemed especially in

d. A glance at his face told me that even

et the Titi

s talking to her I was looking about and my eye happened to fall on one of the letter boxes back of the desk, marked 'Dr. Harris.' Well, at once I had an overwhelming desire t

n before us. It was in a wo

raised letter-opening to a fine art. Some kinds of paper can be steamed open without leaving a trace, and then they foll

ok one and placed it on the edge of the table, which was perfectly

the envelope between two pieces of wood with the

of the envelope, then roughene

rked, as he pulled out a little note

R H

e something VERY IMPORTANT to tell you. Shall be busy to-night and in the morning, but will b

RI

he won't know it has been opened. I saw some of this very strong mucilage in the offi

ges under pressure between the two pieces of wood. As soon as it was dry he excused himself again and went back to the office,

oom," he reported on his return. "I think we migh

ifted into the dining-room, a rather attractive hall, panelled in Flemish oak with artificial fl

I could imagine how wild it might becom

must get something in writing from him in some way. And then there's that g

ance that took in the whole dining-room and disclosed none there in the gay c

it and at on

or, Miss Kendall turned and whispere

Light District, with unnaturally bright eyes which speak of late hours and a fast pace. He wore a flower in his buttonhole-a very fetching touch with some women. Debonair, dapp