登陆注册
15383400000100

第100章

Kennedy was still looking earnestly at her."Miss Ashton," he implored, "believe nothing.Remember one of the first rules of politics is loyalty.Wait until ""Wait?" she echoed."How can I? I hate Wesley Travis for giving in - more than I hate Cadwalader Brown for his cynical disregard of honesty in others."She bit her lip at thus betraying her feelings, but what she had heard had evidently affected her deeply.It was as though the feet of her idol had turned to clay.Nevertheless it was evident that she was coming to look on it more as she would if she were an outsider.

"Just think it over," urged Kennedy."They won't ask you right away.Don't do anything rash.Suspend judgment.You won't regret it."Craig's next problem seemed to be to transfer the scene of his operations to Hanford's studio.He was apparently doing some rapid thinking as we walked uptown after leaving Miss Ashton, and I did not venture to question him on what had occurred when it was so evident that everything depended on being prepared for what was still to occur.

Hanford was out.That seemed to please Kennedy, for with a brightening face, which told more surely than words that he saw his way more and more clearly, he asked me to visit the agent and hire the vacant office next to the studio while he went uptown to complete his arrangements for the final step.

I had completed my part and was waiting in the empty room when he returned.He lost no time in getting to work, and it seemed to me as I watched him curiously in silence that he was repeating what he had already done at the Travis headquarters.He was boring into the wall, only this time he did it much more carefully, and it was evident that if he intended putting anything into this cavity it must be pretty large.The hole was square, and as I bent over Icould see that he had cut through the plaster and laths all the way to the wallpaper on the other side, though he was careful to leave that intact.Then he set up a square black box in the cavity, carefully poising it and making measurements that told of the exact location of its centre with reference to the partitions and walls.

A skeleton key took us into Hanford's well-lighted but now empty studio.For Miss Ashton's sake I wished that the photographs had been there.I am sure Kennedy would have found slight compunction in a larceny of them, if they had been.It was something entirely different that he had in mind now, however, and he was working quickly for fear of discovery.By his measurements I guessed that he was calculating as nearly as possible the centre of the box which he had placed in the hole in the wall on the other side of the dark wallpaper.When he had quite satisfied himself he took a fine pencil from his pocket and made a light cross on the paper to indicate it.The dot fell to the left of a large calendar hanging on the wall.

Kennedy's appeal to Margaret Ashton had evidently had its effect, for when we saw her a few moments after these mysterious preparations she had overcome her emotion.

"They have asked me to carry a note to Mr.Hanford's studio," she said quietly, "and without letting them know that I know anything about it I have agreed to do so.""Miss Ashton," said Kennedy, greatly relieved, "you're a trump.""No," she replied, smiling faintly, "I'm just feminine enough to be curious."Craig shook his head, but did not dispute the point."After you have handed the envelope to the person, whoever it may be, in Hanford's studio, wait until he does something - er - suspicious.

Meanwhile look at the wall on the side toward the next vacant office.

To the left of the big calendar you will see a light pencil mark, a cross.Somehow you must contrive to get near it, but don't stand in front of it.Then if anything happens stick this little number 10needle in the wall right at the intersection of the cross.Withdraw it quickly, count fifteen, then put this little sticker over the cross, and get out as best you can, though we shan't be far away if you should need us.That's all."We did not accompany her to the studio for fear of being observed, but waited impatiently in the next office.We could hear nothing of what was said, but when a door shut and it was evident that she had gone, Kennedy quickly removed something from the box in the wall covered with a black cloth.

As soon as it was safe Kennedy had sent me posting after her to secure copies of the incriminating photographs which were to be carried by her from the studio, while he remained to see who came out.I thought a change had come over her as she handed me the package with the request that I carry it to Mr.Bennett and get them from him.

The first inkling I had that Kennedy had at last been able to trace back something in the mysterious doings of the past two days came the following evening, when Craig remarked casually that he would like to have me call on Billy McLoughlin if I had no engagement.

I replied that I had none and managed to squirm out of the one Ireally had.

The Boss's office was full of politicians, for it was the eve of "dough day," when the purse strings were loosed and a flood of potent argument poured forth to turn the tide of election.Hanford was there with the other ward heelers.

"Mr.McLoughlin," began Kennedy quietly, when we were seated alone with Hanford in the little sanctum of the Boss, "you will pardon me if I seem a little slow in coming to the business that has brought me here to-night.First of all, I may say, and you, Hanford, being a photographer will appreciate it, that ever since the days of Daguerre photography has been regarded as the one infallible means of portraying faithfully any object, scene, or action.Indeed a photograph is admitted in court as irrefutable evidence.For when everything else fails, a picture made through the photographic lens almost invariably turns the tide.However, such a picture upon which the fate of an important case may rest should be subjected to critical examination for it is an established fact that a photograph may be made as untruthful as it may be reliable.

同类推荐
  • 白云樵唱集

    白云樵唱集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 游心安乐道

    游心安乐道

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金刚顶瑜伽三十七尊礼

    金刚顶瑜伽三十七尊礼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 桐山老农集

    桐山老农集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 晦台元镜禅师语录

    晦台元镜禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 豪门闪婚:娇妻,别害羞

    豪门闪婚:娇妻,别害羞

    【甜宠文】前一天晚上被她泼了一脸酒的男人,第二天一早就说要和她结婚?最要命的是,他还是她忽视已久的总裁大人?闪婚也就算了,竟然还直接被这个男人“扛”回家!这怎么可以?她决定要反抗!不过……当男人将她压在身下时,咬牙道:“还要不要离开我?”“放开我!”她极力反抗着,别过了头。男人邪邪一笑道:“放开你?可以,宝贝,只要你喂饱它……”
  • 乱世逍遥决

    乱世逍遥决

    生死别离,只为千年一梦!
  • 节气与养生

    节气与养生

    我们知道,自然界的一切生物无时无刻不在受春湿、夏热、秋凉、冬寒气候变化的影响。我国古典医学名着《黄帝内经》首次提出了“天人相应”的养生观。这种观点认为,人生活在自然界中,同时也是自然界的重要组成部分,人体的生理活动受自然的影响而不断地调整和适应。大自然阴阳消长的变化,引起了四时寒暑冷凉的变化,并形成了春生夏长秋收冬藏的生物发展规律。
  • 吾创乾坤

    吾创乾坤

    郎朗乾坤有天地,诞阴阳,生日月,化五行。且看一个小子如何一步步从一名卑微的力者,最后独创乾坤走上宇宙之巅。
  • 一诺惊婚

    一诺惊婚

    她本是富贵的千金小姐,却在醒来之时,成为了一个陌生的女人。身份,面容,都被另一个女人代替。亲情,爱情,都被另一个女人占据。究竟是谁?夺走了她的一切?
  • 王者教师

    王者教师

    一次事故改变了他的一生流氓的本性一切都没有变
  • 那一场梦魇

    那一场梦魇

    宁汀生父苦苦的哀求下,为同父异母的妹妹捐赠骨髓,没有想到在途中发生了车祸,一觉醒来,竟然成为了救命恩人的繁衍工具,终于在死里逃生后遇到了真命天子,可没有想到代价竟然是万劫不复!
  • 傲娇亲亲大穿越

    傲娇亲亲大穿越

    一个普通到不能再普通的小妞如愿所愿从傲娇废柴变身为惊艳女王……………呃…能弱弱的问下,哎!女王不要这个样子啊!普通世界和米妮尔顿王国不能这样随意切换进进出出啊!……
  • 绝色萌妃:妖孽太子收了她

    绝色萌妃:妖孽太子收了她

    她人前呆萌,人后腹黑,他面前嘛,傲娇脑残人还蠢。他人前妖孽,人后阴暗,她面前嘛,无耻撒娇还卖萌。某男,“你想念的那个人一定会来找你。”某女,“不来怎么办?”某男冷笑,“开玩笑,我怎么可能不来?”某女,“……如果他不来,我会去找他。”
  • 道原始

    道原始

    当行属有简至繁是否会回归初始?当人念充斥已身是丧失自我还是掌控真我?当面对至理是胆怯还是兴奋?当行属已透,人念已破,至理已悟是否会有另外的巅峰?