Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morganand the Online Distributed Proofreading Team athttps://www.pgdp.net
Agent Nine Solves His First Case
_By_ Graham M. Dean
*
_A Story of the Daring Exploits of the "G" Men_
The Goldsmith Publishing Company CHICAGO
Copyright mcmxxxv By The Goldsmith Publishing Company MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I. A SURPRISE CALL 15 II. AN EMPTY ROOM 21 III. BOB HAS A VISITOR 27 IV. THE DOOR MOVES 33 V. A SLIVER OF STEEL 41 VI. IN THE DARKENED ROOM 50 VII. SIRENS IN THE NIGHT 58 VIII. THE PAPER VANISHES 67 IX. SUSPICIONS 74 X. ON THE LEDGE 79 XI. STRAINED TEMPERS 87 XII. STEPS IN THE HALL 97 XIII. BOB FIGHTS BACK 104 XIV. SPECIAL AGENT NINE 112 XV. A REAL JOB AHEAD 122 XVI. IN BOB'S ROOM 130 XVII. THE RADIO SECRET 140 XVIII. MEAGER HOPES 147 XIX. THE MISSING PAPER 156 XX. ON A LONELY STREET 165 XXI. SHOTS IN THE NIGHT 173 XXII. THE LONE STRUGGLE 180 XXIII. ANXIOUS HOURS 187 XXIV. A SOLITARY HAND 194 XXV. THE FIRST CLUE 202 XXVI. A BREAK FOR BOB 211 XXVII. ACTION AHEAD 216 XXVIII. WASTE PAPER 224 XXIX. INTO THE AIR 230 XXX. ON THE EAST SHORE 234 XXXI. THE CHASE ENDS 241 XXXII. "FEDERAL AGENT" 249
AGENT NINE SOLVES HIS FIRST CASE
*
Chapter I A SURPRISE CALL *
Bob Houston, youthful clerk in the archives division of the WarDepartment, drew his topcoat closer about him and shivered as he steppedout of the shelter of the apartment house entrance and faced the chillfall rain.
Going back to the office after a full day bent over a desk was no fun,but a job was a job, and Bob was thankful for even the small place hefilled in the great machine of government.
The raw, beating rain swept into his face as he strode down the avenue. Acruising taxicab, hoping for a passenger, pulled along the curb, but Bobwaved the vehicle away. Just then he had no extra funds to invest in taxifare.
The avenue was deserted and Bob doubted if there would be many at work inthe huge building where the archives division was sheltered.
At the end of a fifteen-minute walk Bob turned in at the entrance of ahulking gray structure. The night guard nodded as he recognized Bob andthe clerk stepped through the doorway.
Bob paused in the warmth of the lobby and shook the water from his coatand hat. Fortunately he had worn rubbers so his feet were dry and he feltthere was little chance of his catching cold.
The door behind him opened and a blast of raw air swirled into the lobby.
Bob turned quickly; then hurried to greet the newcomer.
"Hello Uncle Merritt," he cried. "I didn't expect to run into you downhere tonight."
Merritt Hughes, one of the crack agents of the Department of Justice,smiled as he shook the rain from his hat.
"I was driving home when I caught a glimpse of you coming in here.Working tonight?"
"I've got at least two hours of work ahead of me," replied Bob.
"Anyone else going to be with you?" inquired his uncle.
"No, I'm alone."
"Good. I want to talk with you where there is no chance that we may beoverheard."
Bob was tempted to ask what it was all about, but he knew that in goodtime his uncle would tell him.
They stepped into an automatic elevator and Bob pressed the controlbutton.
There was a distinct resemblance between uncle and nephew. Merritt Hugheslooked as though he might be Bob's older brother. He was well built,about five feet eight inches tall, and usually tipped the scales at 160pounds, but there was no fat on his well conditioned body. His hair was adull brown, but the keenness of his eyes made up for whatever coloringwas lacking in his hair.
Bob was taller than his uncle and would outweigh him ten pounds. His hairwas light and his pleasant blue eyes were alert to everything that wasgoing on. Both had rather large and definite noses, and Bob often chidedhis uncle on that family trait.
The elevator stopped at the top floor and they stepped out. Another guardstopped them and Bob was forced to present his identification card. Thesmall golden badge which his uncle displayed was sufficient to gain hisadmittance.
Bob's desk was in one wing of the archives division and they made theirway there without loss of time. Bob took his uncle's topcoat and hung itbeside his own. When he turned back to his desk, his uncle was seated onthe other side, leaning back comfortably in a swivel chair.
"Still have the idea you'd like to join the bureau of investigation ofthe Department of Justice?" asked Merritt Hughes. The question wascasual, almost offhand, and Bob wasn't sure that he had heard correctly.
"You're kidding me now," he grinned. "You know I'd like to get in theservice, but I haven't a chance. Why, I'm not through with my collegework, and they're only taking graduates now."
"I'm not kidding, Bob; I'm serious. I think there may be a chance for youto get in. Of course you'd have to finish your college work after youwere in the department, but that wouldn't be too much of a handicap."
"I'll say it wouldn't," exulted Bob. "Now tell me what it's all about.The last time I talked to you about getting in, you gave me about as muchencouragement as though I was suggesting a swim across the Atlanticocean."
Merritt Hughes was a long time in answering, and when he finally spokehis voice was so low that anyone ten feet away would have been unable tohear his words.
"There's trouble and big trouble brewing right in this department," hesaid. "We don't know just exactly what is going to happen, but we must beprepared for any emergency."
Bob started to speak, but his uncle waved the words aside and went on.
"We could plant
an agent here, but that might be too obvious. What weneed is someone on the inside whom we can trust fully."
Bob, teetering on the edge of his chair, breathlessly waited for the nextwords.
"I'm counting on you to be the key in the intrigue that's going on rightnow in this building," said Merritt Hughes. "What about it?"
"You know you can rely on me," said Bob. "Why, I'd do almost anything,take almost any risk to get into the bureau of investigation of theDepartment of Justice."
"I know you would, Bob, but that isn't going to be necessary. All I wantis someone who will keep his eyes open, listen to everything that is saidaround here, and report to me each night in detail. You know I wouldn'twant you butting into something where you might get hurt."
"But I'm young and husky. I can take care of myself," protested Bob, hiseyes reflecting his eagerness.
"Sure, I know you can, but after all I've got to look out for you. Yourmother would never forgive me if any actual harm came to you while youwere doing a little sleuthing for me."
There was a tender note in the voice of the agent, for it had devolvedupon him to watch over Bob and his mother after the death of his sister'shusband some six years before. He had been faithful to the trust and hehad no intention now of placing Bob in any situation where there would bereal jeopardy to his life.
"Go on, go on," urged Bob. "Tell me what I'm to watch for and what yoususpect."
Instead of answering Merritt Hughes stepped to the door, opened it, madea careful survey of the hall, and then drew his chair closer to Bob.
Agent Nine Solves His First Case: A Story of the Daring Exploits of the G Men Page 1