The Spider Strain | Page 7

he could not get about except in an invalid's
chair, yet The Spider remained the brains of the band.
Warwick and some of the others knew that in the den of the house on
American Boulevard there were great filing cases that held many
interesting documents. Some of these related to criminals, some were
of such a nature that they could have been used against prominent men,
and others were documents regarding police officers and detectives.
Whereas any well-regulated police department kept a rogues' gallery of
crooks, The Spider maintained his rogues' gallery of peace officers,
knew their peculiarities, their weak spots, and their strong points. But
only Togo and few of the old-timers knew of other things that were in
those secret archives--things that related to days gone by, little accounts
that the supercriminal sought to settle from time to time, in some as the
creditor and in some as a debtor.
Togo was also sincerely attached to John Warwick. Several times, he
had given Warwick valuable aid, and on one occasion had saved him
from exposure and arrest. When Warwick returned to his rooms this
day, Togo opened the door for him, stepped back, and bowed, flashing
his teeth in a smile.
"Honorable Togo, I am a bit late," Warwick said. "Kindly have dinner
sent up from the restaurant downstairs just as soon as possible. There is
a little social affair this evening at the home of Mrs. Burton Barker, and
I am obliged to attend. Beastly bore, I suppose, and all that--but it
happens to be necessary."
"Yes, sar!" Togo said.
"Togo, I was driving with Miss Silvia Rodney this afternoon, and chap
betrayed particular interest in me."
"Sar?"

"He appeared rather anxious and eager to know all about my comings
and goings, and all that sort of thing. I maneuvered to get a glimpse of
him, finally. My word! Very common-looking chap at that--very
common indeed!"
"Policeman, sar?"
"If he is, he is a new one on me, Togo, old top. I fancy that he is no
policeman, or anything of that sort. I have a faint idea that the chap is
one of those criminal fellows. The sort that always are poking their
noses into the business of other folk--you know!"
"Yes, sar!"
"It might be well, old boy, if you kept your eyes and ears open a bit
around here, what? We've been bothered before now by fellows who
were inclined to cause us a bit of annoyance, haven't we? Getting rather
sick of it!"
"I understand, sar."
"If anybody should come prowling about--"
"I shall attend to him, sar!" Togo promised.
"There you are--always bloodthirsty! My word! Assassinate the whole
world if you could, what?"
"Only if the world was against you, sar!"
"Um! Thanks!" Warwick said. "Faithful chap, and all that! Well, keep
eyes and ears open, old boy. And toddle right along now and order that
dinner!"
* * *
Half an hour later, Warwick was eating dinner in the living room of his
suite, Togo serving it. When he came to coffee, Warwick leaned back
in his chair, puffed at a cigarette, and regarded Togo carefully.

"I've a bit of news for you, old top--astonishing news," he said,
presently. "You are as much a comrade in arms as a valet, and so you
should know."
"Thank you, sar!"
"You know our flabby-cheeked friend with whom we are associated
now and then in a little enterprise? Quite so! Well, I have to tell you,
honorable Japanese, that before very long I shall be leaving his band."
"Sar?" Togo cried.
A swift change came over Togo's face. For a moment the Japanese,
who seldom showed emotion, revealed his feelings, and in no uncertain
manner.
"Oh, everything will be quite regular, honorable Togo!" Warwick
assured him. "I am not turning traitor, or bolting, or anything like that.
My word, no! I'm thinking of getting married, old boy--understand?"
Togo grinned.
"I see that you do understand," John Warwick continued. "And a
married man should not be doing things that might get him into trouble
with the police, should he? So there you are! Our friend, whose name
need not be mentioned here at this moment, has agreed to--er--release
me after I accomplish two certain things. You gather that all in,
honorable Togo?"
"Yes, sar!"
"Excellent! Your own future is provided for, of course. I'll need you
with me as much as before, and all that. It's up to you to say whether
you remain with me or go back to where you can--er--be more active in
the service of our flabby-cheeked friend."
"I shall be glad to remain, sar," Togo replied.
"Good! I have to accomplish the first task of the two tonight, if I can, at

the residence of Mrs. Button Barker."
"I am to help,