The Python by Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson

Author:Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson [Grant, Maxwell & Gibson, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Espionage, Fiction, Thrillers
ISBN: 9780982203378
Amazon: B002EJ9S30
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1935-11-15T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIV. THE BROKEN INTERVIEW

IT took Craig Jurrice nearly fifty minutes to reach the Hotel Bragelonne. He had chosen to make the trip by cab. Traffic was heavy at this hour and the taxi was stalled frequently on its trip.

Hence Jurrice, when he reached the apartment hotel, was both impatient and annoyed. He strode into an elevator and was taken promptly to the sixth floor.

Clyde Burke arrived five minutes later. He entered the lobby and approached the desk. He arrived just in time to hear an argument between two clerks. One was rising from the telephone switchboard, where he was on temporary duty.

"You gave Mr. Jurrice the message then?" inquired the one behind the desk. "When was that?"

"When he stopped for his key," replied the man from the switchboard. "See? It's gone from the box."

"Where's the other one then?"

"There was only one message, that told him to wait for a second call."

"I know there was only one message. I mean, where's the other key?"

"That's right - there should be two. Doesn't Jurrice usually carry one, though?"

"Yes. That's why there should be one here in the box. Unless, like most everybody, he forgets it occasionally and leaves it in his room when he locks the automatic door."

"Then why worry about it? Jurrice has his key. I gave him the message. His call has come and he's answering it from his apartment."

Laughing, the clerk went back to the switchboard. His companion nodded, apparently realizing his own dumbness. He saw Clyde and waited for the reporter's question.

"I should like to speak to Mr. Jurrice," stated Clyde. "His apartment is 602, I believe?"

"Yes," replied the clerk, "but his line's busy. We'll ring him later."

Clyde took a chair. He felt relieved; for he had made speed in coming here. Clyde had haunted the steamship office all during the afternoon, keeping tabs on Jurrice's stay in Roquil's office. For this was actually Clyde's day off at the Classic; and he was keeping to the special task of watching Jurrice.

Jurrice's nervous behavior at the steamship office; his open speech in front of witnesses - these combined elements had made Clyde decide that the emergency had come.

If Jurrice intended to keep talking about Revoort, Clyde knew of a place where he could chatter in security. The game was to get Jurrice there.

The fact that Jurrice was talking on the telephone gave Clyde the assurance that all was well for the present. He did not see how Jurrice could be complicating matters by a telephone call. Had Clyde been able to listen in on that busy wire, his opinion might have changed.

IN the little living room of Suite 602, Craig Jurrice was making statements that concerned his connection with Louis Revoort. Moreover, he was repeating words that came across the wire, thus giving an indication of what was being said at the other end. For Jurrice, hard upon his return to the Bragelonne, had received a call from Revoort's Cuban friend, Ramorez.

"You saw me at the steamship office?" Jurrice was saying.

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