Chapter XXVII ACTION AHEAD *
Arthur Jacobs wiped the perspiration from his forehead and then reachedfor the glass of water. He drained it at one gulp and leaned back in hischair, an air of relief on his face.
Bob, tense, waited for him to speak. When the words finally came theyrushed out in a torrent and Bob heard a story that wrenched at his ownheart.
"It's been terrible, Bob, terrible. I've got to tell you the whole story.When Fritz escaped from prison he made his way east and I had lettersfrom him. He needed money; he had always needed money as far as that wasconcerned. When I sent word that I had none to spare, he startedthreatening me. Then he fell in with bad company and the first thing Iknew he was here in Washington."
The filing chief paused a moment and wiped his forehead again for theperspiration was running freely.
"Fritz came to my apartment and demanded money, but I actually didn'thave it. He went away for a while, and then came again later. It was onthis visit last week that I got some inkling of what was in his mind. Hestarted hinting around about the secrets which passed through my handsfor filing and for safe-guarding. After an hour or so he came out in theopen and made me a proposition. He knew where he could sell the secret ofthis new radio-propelled and guided plane if I could get my hands on theWar Department papers."
The filing chief stopped to pour out another glass of water.
"Go on," urged Bob, who was desperately anxious to learn the full storyand then resume the hunt for his uncle.
"Fritz offered me $5,000 for my share if I would only tell him when thepapers reached the office. He said that was all they needed to know. Icould have used the $5,000, but I told him I wouldn't do such a thing.Then a couple of days later I got a letter from him. It was mailedsomewhere over in Maryland and he repeated his offer and threatened mewith exposing an old family scandal."
"That was the letter Condon Adams found," exclaimed Bob, and the filingchief nodded.
"I was careless about that. I tossed it in the fireplace, but didn't makesure that it had been consumed."
"But did you supply your brother with the necessary information?" askedBob, pressing hard for more concrete information.
Arthur Jacobs lowered his head.
"Fritz came back the other night. He was in a terrible rage. He hadpromised to get this information from me, and had failed. You'll neverknow the fear I've always had of Fritz. He was bigger, older and healways bullied me. He threatened to beat me to death and I finally toldhim what he wanted to know."
Bob saw tears welling into the chief clerk's eyes and he turned his ownface away, for it had not been easy to hear this confession. When theyoung federal agent finally looked back, Arthur Jacobs was composed andcalm once more.
"When did you give him this information?"
"It was the night before you caught Fritz in the office," replied Jacobs.
"Have you seen him since then?"
"Yes, he came to my apartment after his escape and I sheltered him for afew hours. I didn't want to, but he was armed and forced me to do it.That's all I know about it."
"Don't you know who's behind Fritz? Who is supplying him with the money?"
Arthur Jacobs shook his head.
"I didn't even see any money," he said bitterly. "Fritz said that wouldcome later after this thing had been forgotten."
Bob felt sorry for the little man, for he knew now that Jacobs had beenthe unwilling dupe of an older and bullying brother.
There was one bit of information Bob must have, one thing that was vital.
"Did you save the envelope in which the letter Fritz sent you fromMaryland was mailed?" he asked.
Jacobs ran his fingers through his thinning hair.
"I can't remember."
"Did you toss it in the fireplace?"
"No, I don't think so. I probably dropped it in the wastebasket. The maidcleans my apartment each day."
"Then where would this type of rubbish go?"
"Down to the janitor, who would burn it in the incinerator."
Bob reached for the telephone on the other table.
"Give me the number of your apartment house," he urged, and Jacobssupplied the needed information.
The building superintendent answered and Bob's words fairly tumbled overthe wire.
"This is Bob Houston, a federal agent speaking," he said. "Get hold ofyour janitor at once. Don't allow him to burn any more waste paper orrefuse of any type from the floor on which Arthur Jacobs lives. I'll bethere within half an hour to check up on you."
The building superintendent was inclined to argue, but Bob cut him short.
"This is no time for words," he said. "Do as you're told or I'll file acharge against you for interfering with the work of a federal officer."
Actually Bob didn't know whether he had that power or not, but the wordssounded well and the threat did what was intended--the superintendentchanged his tone and agreed to halt the burning of any more wastepaper orrefuse.
Bob turned back from the telephone and Jacobs looked at him with abrighter face.
"I don't know what's going to happen to me," he said, "but I feel betterfor having told you."
"I'll help you all I can," promised Bob heartily, turning to call forLieutenant Gibbons.
The intelligence officer opened the door almost instantly and CondonAdams and Tully Ross crowded in close behind him.
"Well, can you solve the mystery for us now?" asked Adams, his voiceheavy with sarcasm.
"I think so," replied Bob.
"Let's have it, then."
"Hardly. Solve it in your own way. Remember that I'm working with myuncle on this case. You have the invaluable help of Tully."
"That's enough of smart cracks like that," replied Adams, his faceflushing a little. "I want to know what Jacobs said."
"I'm making my report direct to Mr. Edgar. You'll have to get it fromhim."
With that Bob left the room and went directly to the office of thefederal chief, Lieutenant Gibbons trailing at his heels.
Waldo Edgar listened intently while Bob recounted what Jacobs had toldhim.
"I rather sensed what his story would be," mused the chief investigator.
"Don't you believe it?" asked Bob.
"Yes, every word of it. Just another case of an older and bullyingbrother taking advantage of a weaker one. It looks like Jacobs hassupplied us with the key information we have been groping for. Good work,Bob."
"I'm afraid I don't deserve any congratulations. Adams turned up Jacobsas a suspect."
"True enough, but Jacobs would never have talked for Adams or any of therest of us. The important thing is that he did talk to you. Now what areyou planning?"
Bob told of the letter from Maryland and of his orders to the buildingsuperintendent.
"The postmark on that letter should give us a clue to where the gang tookmy uncle," he said. "There isn't much chance of finding it, but it'sworth the time and effort."
Waldo Edgar's eyes brightened.
"You're going to do, my boy. It's things like that that count. You nevercan tell when even the tiniest slip of paper is going to give you the keyto the case you're working on."
The chief agent turned to Lieutenant Gibbons.
"You're staying on the case with Bob?" he asked.
"I'm going to try and keep up with him," smiled the intelligence officer.
"Splendid. Then we'll expect your uncle and the missing radio paperwithin the next twenty-four hours, Bob."
Agent Nine Solves His First Case: A Story of the Daring Exploits of the G Men Page 27
