St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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DOUBLE CROSSED 21 'A 'VVho are you?' I asked, in as even a tone as I could command. 'I don't even know you.' '0h, that's all r1g'ht,' she replied with a smile, seeming to enjoy my confusion. 'I know you. I've heard thc gang speak of you a number of times. You're Michael O'Toole of the United States Secret Service, and you are searching for the stolen plates. You'd give 310,000 to find them. but I am going to tell you where you can get them for nothingf As she finished, she leaned slightly forward, resting one hand on her hip. and supporting her dimpled chin with the other, and looked me straight in the eye. 'Io be frank with you, I didn't know what to do or say. The first thing I thought of was to ask her how she knew where the plates were, and I did, 'That is really none of your businessf she replied, 'but I don't mind telling you. For the past two years I have been sort of paling with the gent who has them. He got tired of me though, and ditched me when he found another he liked better. I'm squealing simply to get even. Get 1116? UI did and I didn't. VVhat I couldn't understand was why she was offering to tell me Without any reward where I could locate the plates, when she could secure a nice piece of change for this information. If it hadn't been for the way she looked me straight in the eye and told her story, I would certainly have suspected that she was laying a trap for me. 'Wlellf I said at last, 'tell me where the plates are.' 'Not so fast there. grandpaf she broke in. 'I'll give you the dope when, and only when, you have agreed to go after them in my wayf 'And by that you mean F' I'hat you niust do the job yourself and take me along., H 'Say, how am I going to know that you are not try- ing to lead me into a net ?' I asked. She smiled. 'You flatter yourself. Wfhat difference would it make if you were put out of the way? There are fifty other

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QQ THE I CNA T1 A N similar situation. I concluded that the fellow who had the plates was lying low around one of the numerous Atlantic ports, waiting for a chance to skip the country. For about a week I covered the coast between New York and Boston. I discovered absolutely nothing that could be of any assistance in locating the thieves or their loot, and as far as I could learn, my fate had been shared by the other men of the 'Servicef March was over half gone. the date set for the opening of the Victory Loan drive drawing near. and no clue to the recovery of the missing plates. I spent the next week around Norfolk and Newport News, but without any satisfactory results. I was sitting in the lobby of the Monticello I'-lotel in the former city one evening, debating' with myself what territory I should cover next, when I heard a bell-boy paging me. As he approached where I was seated, I called him over, and inquired what he wanted. 'I 'Lady wishes to see you, sir,' he said. 'The lady sitting on the other side of the lobby with roses on her hat.' I glanced in the direction in which he pointed, and easily lo- cated the one with the rose-adorned hat, but after scrutinizing' her closely for several seconds. I was unable to recall having' met her before. Needless to say, I was not a little surprised at being' visited, as I had thought my whereabouts were un- known. As I approached my visitor, I could see that she was very young, not more than twenty-three or four, and that she was exceptionally good looking. After presenting' myself, I drew a chair up beside her, and inquired what I could do for her. She glanced up at me with a rather queer expression upon her face and said: 'Do you want to know where the Yictory Bond plates are ?' For several seconds I stared at her half dazed. and then, partially recovering' from the shock of such a greeting, and realizing' that I had been indiscreet in displaying my surprise, I endeavored to compose myself.

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22 THE IGNATIAN Service men within ten miles of here. You would never he missedf She was right and I knew it. VVith fifty, possibly seventy-five other agents almost within calling distance, what good would it do to grab me? 'W'ell, lcidj I said, 'I'll take a chance. lYhat's your game? 'You mean you'll keep what I tell you under your hat and follow my instruetions?' she queried. 'Yes,' I replied. 'Its easy to pull it oliff she began, her eyes brighten- ing, 'At about 9 o'elock at night he is usually alone. A hundred to one he'll be lying on the couch opposite the door. All you have to do is to knock like this to get in.' She tapped twice on the arm of her chair, paused, and then tapped twice again. 'Thats the signalf she said. 'When he hears that hell press a button that releases the lock on the door. Then you can ning it open and cover him with your fun. Thats what I call zsimplef 'But how about the plates? 'Oh yes. the platesf she continued. 'llihen you get inside of the room vou'll see a panel in the wall over the couch. Dy running your hand over it you will find a but- ton. Press it, and the panel will spring open. Right inside, on ri little shelf, are the plates' '.-Xnd where will you be while I am doing all this? I asked. 'Outside,' she replied. 'Uon't worry about me. I'll he on the spot when you bring him outf 'llut where is the h' '-'. isis? I questioned. determined to find out as much as possible. 'I'll show vou when you do the jobf she answered. 'lf l told you now you might he tempted to raid it with- out me. Wiill you he ready at S250 to-morrow night? I hesitated for a moment: then thrusting my fears aside, said: 'Yes, I'll he ready. NYhere shall I meet you?