The Ear in the Wall

Carton resumed his seat at the desk unconcernedly a

ed the District Attorne

sor

call the 'open' investigation. They have forced us from cover. We shall

ous moves that the System might make and

ing else, and prompt. We had about decided to continue our conference over the dinner table in some uptown restaurant, w

had said he would see him, was a middle-sized fellow, with a high, slightly bald forehead, a shifty expression in his sharp ferret eyes, and a n

odded re

lawyers of the System. He had begun his career as an "ambulance chaser," had risen later to the dignity of a police court lawy

overcrowded legal flock. Ideals he had none. His claws reached out to grab the pittance of the poverty-stricken client as well as the fee of the wealthy. He had risen from hospitals to police courts, coroner's court, and crim

ess evil appearance, who are constantly prowling from one end to the other of the broad first floor

the hands of the law. Others of the same species are wandering about the galleries on other floors of the building, each with a furtiv

thropic work whenever a prisoner is penniless. But the percentage of shysters is high. Kahn belonged in the latter class, although his days of doing dirty work himself were

gan in a conciliatory tone, "I have intruded on your valu

ined you, have they, Ike?" he mused fam

arity, seemed rather to enjoy it an

just had a talk with the prisoner in the Tombs a

ling to let Kahn do the talking for

ad case. I can tell you that, Mr. Carton, because I didn't have to resort to

it was because he knew it was no use, that Carton had no illusions about him. Still, there was an uncanny bravado about it all. Kahn was

closer, for men of Kahn's stamp seem unable to talk without getting into almost personal contact with those w

man is guilty from being able to prove it in court. There are all sorts of delays that may be granted, w

ll me that, Kahn," re

ther apologetically. "I was just using

ay in which we can reach an agreement, compromise this case, satisfactorily to the people with a minimum of time and expense-some way in which the indictment or

Kahn," he said in a low tone

Carton's face as if to bore

might fairly assume that he went from this room directly across the street to your office and that you know it al

e was cleverer than Mur

re so many more profitable things that you could do. The fact is that I would be the last one to propose anything that was not open and above board

the lines I have indicated if I have to disrupt this entire office to get men to do it. I have plenty to do seeking re-election, but my first duty is to act as public prosecutor in the office to

eenly, now and then taking a shi

an ultimatum, Kahn gazed at him in amazement. Here was a m

al of mud-slinging in this campaign. We may find it necessary to go back int

rton had voluntarily placed himself in the open and in a position from which he could not retreat. Evidently, now, he w

epeated firmly,

to encourage him. Yet he was too smooth to let his temper rise, as Murtha had. By the same token I

it is war-without quarte

rter," repeated

bluster of Murtha. I felt for the first time a sort of sinking sensation, a

ur position and that of our opponents added zest to the fight for them. And I had

re we should dine. We decided on a quiet hotel uptown and, leaving word where we could be fo

s we were mightily mistaken. We had not fairly done justice t

arton-

rney crooked his

ed at the te

e and excu

when he returned after a long absence, he pushed aside t

ey are resorting to other tactics. It looks as if they had in some way, probably from some corrupt official of the cour

talesmen and let these fellows serve in some other part o

hn with the goods. It would be great to catch one of these clever fellows trying

proportion showed what a valuable political asset such

s, I suppose. Where does Kahn hang out? Most fellows like him have a sort of Amen Corner where they meet th

o Farrell's-has an intere

night cafe which managed to survive the excise viciss

dy turning various schemes over in his m

o come up to the laboratory with me, I might in time of peace prepare for war. I have a little apparatus

athered together an amazing collection of paraphernalia in the warfare of scien

amiliar with one piece of apparatus to perform one duty, than another situation, entirely different and unprecedented in our cases arose which called for anoth

like the little black leather box of a camera