E-text prepared by Al Haines
by
Author of "Blue Pete: Half-Breed," "The Lone Trail," "The Blue Wolf,"
Etc.
New York
George H. Doran Company
Copyright, 1922,by George H. Doran Company
Sergeant Mahon emptied the barracks mail bag on the desk beforeInspector Barker and stood awaiting instructions. The Inspector passedhis hand over the small pile of letters and let his eye roam from oneto another in the speculative way that added zest to the laterrevelation of their contents.
One from headquarters at Regina he set carefully aside. With an "ah!"of satisfied expectancy he selected one from the remainder and placedit before him. Mahon was mildly interested. The little foibles of hissuperior were always amusing to him. Eyes still fixed on the envelope,the Inspector commenced to fill his pipe.
"Spoiling for a job, Mahon?"
"Depends."
"Hm-m! Beautifully non-committal."
Mahon's interest was rising. The Inspector went on calmly cramming inthe tobacco. When the job was completed to his liking, he thrust thepipe between his lips, flicked a loose flake from his tunic, and forgotto apply a match. Instead, he picked up the envelope and examined iton all sides. Mahon began to grow impatient.
Twice the Inspector turned the letter over. Mahon fretted. He couldsee on its face the Division headquarters stamp—Lethbridge—but whyall this ceremony and pother about an official note that came almostevery day? He recalled suddenly that his wife would be holding lunchfor him—with fresh fish he had seen unloaded little more than an hourago from the through train from Vancouver. He could almost smell itsizzling on the natural gas cooker.
"Hm-m!" The envelope was not yet broken. "I imagine this willinterest you, Mahon."
Suddenly the Inspector dived into a drawer and, taking from it anofficial looking envelope, passed it back to the Sergeant. The latteraccepted it with fading interest. The Assistant Commissioner at Reginawas unfolding to Inspector Barker's immediate superior, theSuperintendent at Lethbridge, an unexciting tale of crime. Crime wastheir daily diet, and th