It's a long way

A few minutes later George saw his poker pal exit the elevator and walk briskly across the lobby and through the revolving door. He looked at his watch and returned to reading his paper.  About an hour later, Carroll appeared and sat down beside him. “Anything happening?”

      “Well my poker pal left here about an hour ago and looked like he was on a fast trip to somewhere.”

      “Interesting” said Carroll “His people must have contacted him or he’s out for an evening’s entertainment.”

      With that, the door to the elevator opened and Sharp and the girl entered the lobby. It looked like they were going for an evening walk. Carroll said “I’ll go--- you stay and let’s find out where Spitzbart went.”

Chapter 10 – Flo Bert

      Flo Bert’s voice had an amazing bell like tone that charmed both Sharpe and the girl.  As she sang her way through a half dozen songs, the girl watched her carefully and then turned and whispered to Sharp “We will have to go back stage to see her”

      Sharp followed her to the lobby and then out the front door. They circled the great wedding cake of a building and finally found a sign that said “stage entrance”. Sharp slowly opened the door and as luck would have it, the stool usually occupied by the doorman, was vacant. Quickly pulling the girl after him, he entered and followed the signs again, went toward the “dressing rooms”.  Noticing that each dressing room had the artist’s name in a small card holder they looked at one door after another.

      “Here she is” the girl whispered

      Sharp knuckled the door and then stepped through as there was no response. A few moments later they heard the music on stage swell to a finish and then the crowd roaring it’s approval.  Moments later the door knob turned and in stepped the famous singer.

      “Who are you people and what do you think you’re doing in my room? “  she said as she saw them. She didn’t seem surprised, as though people showed up in her room all the time.

      Sharp raised both his hands and said “This girl needs to talk to your boss”

      “He’s not here, but I expect him in about 15 minutes”

      The girl looked at the singer and then taking a deep breath said “Does your boss have a name?”

      “You want to talk to him and you don’t know his name. What is this about? Who are you people?”

      “I know you give concerts for the soldiers going overseas”, said the girl, “It’s to do with the war and I wonder if he’s the man I need to talk to”

      Sharp said “I’m Major Sharp of the 21^st Btn on assignment. We could really use your help”

      “Well, if it’s for the war”, Flo hesitated, “I’m have some tea coming up, or something stronger if you wish, please let’s wait for Simpson”

      A few minutes, the door opened and a bustling little bald headed man scurried into the room. “This is Cedric Simpson” informed Flo. “These folks want to see you. Something about the war”

      Simpson looked at Sharp and then at the girl. “Yes”, he said.

      The girl swallowed and then said “Do you know It’s a Long Way to Tipperary?”

      Simpson smiled and said “Of course everyone knows that song. It was written by a lady in Kingston Canada. The troops all sing it. Why do you ask?”

      The girl hesitated, and then said “Oh”

      Simpson frowned and said “What’s going on here?” and reaching for a telephone got the house operator and said “Mike, we’ve got some people in Miss Bert’s dressing room. Could you send security up here to get rid of them”

      As the stage door opened, Carroll saw the girl and Sharp thrust out into the alley. They stood dejected and confused. He followed them as they slowly walked back to the hotel and watched as they entered the elevator.

      He turned and found George standing beside him.

      “Looks like they are disappointed about something “ said George

      “They got thrown out of the Hippodrome stage door”, said Murdoch, “but I don’t know why”

      “I followed Goatee and finally caught up to him outside the Hippodrome. He bought a ticket and then I noticed that he was following our pair. I sat a few rows behind him and he just sat and watched Sharpe and her. They left just after that singer finished, what’s her name…Flo something”

      “Flo Bert”, said Murdoch, “I was there too”

      “What could they all be doing at the Hippodrome?”

      “We will have to see what happens tomorrow. Where did Goatee end up?”

      George grinned and said “He followed them but when they went in the stage door and he tried to follow, the guard stopped him. He then headed for a German club a couple of streets over from the Hippodrome. He looked like he was setting in for an evening of beer and sauerbraten when I left.”

      “OK George, lets get some sleep and start on this again tomorrow. Our charges are in their room and I don’t think they will be headed out again tonight.”

Chapter 9 - Spitzbart

George did his best to amble down the aisle of the car as though he was just trying to stretch his legs. When he reached Spitzbart’s seat, the train gave a lurch and George tumbled into the seat beside his target.

“Oh, I’m sorry” George chuckled, “I guess I’ve been sitting so long my legs are numb”

Spitzbart smiled and said “Please think nothing of it”

“Sure wish I had something to do while this thing gets to New York”, George mused.

“Me too”, said the goatee man, “If I only had my cards with me, we could play some poker”

“Funny you should say that, because” and George dipped into his jacket pocket and flourished a pack of playing cards.

As they played George did his best to grumble about the ride, the food, the smell of the other passengers, and the lack of goods during a war.

“How come your not in uniform?, asked Spitzbart.

“Got flat feet”, George smiled. “Kept me out of what has turned into a nasty, nasty situation. I feel really bad about it, but I guess things are what they are for a reason. What about yourself? Floating kidney, water on the knee, piles, gout?”

He smiled quietly and said “I was over there for a while, but “ he hesitated “ I don’t think you would understand what it’s like. When I was gassed, they decided to send me home”

“You don’t look too bad off”, George said examining him closely.

“Just don’t ask me to run a 100 yard dash”

“So what do you do now?” asked George

“My brother got me a job as a buyer for a hardware distribution company. International Hardware. I go all over the place looking for products to sell in our store in Toronto. It’s not easy with the war taking most of the production. My card”

“You married?”, asked George

“Never been able to find someone who would put up with me, and besides when I went overseas, the girl I had been interested in, got interested in someone else”

“It happens” said George

“I see the Hun finally was stopped before he got too far into France” George continued. “Bastards are going to be sorry they ever started this war”

Spitzbart smiled sadly and said “Maybe they had a good reason”

“Well, there is usually no good reason for starting a donnybrook like this one”, said George. By the way, where are you staying in New York?”

“I telegraphed the Chatham. It’s a nice place and the rates are reasonable. It’s central and I’ve stayed there before”

“I wonder if they have rooms available. We might stay there too” George said. As they had finished their game, he reassembled the pack of cards, and tucking them into his pocket, rose and said “Well, I guess it’s time for some grub. See you in the dining car”

Spitzbart watched as George lurched his way back to the front of the car and thought, now that’s a pleasant chap, for a Canuck. He put his book and pipe away and followed to the dining car.

The girl and Sharp spent the day wandering the streets of New York. She was concerned that he seemed to be weaker than he had been in Kingston and up to the time he collapsed in Rutland. She watched as he would rest at the top of a flight of stairs, or when they had crossed the busy streets. Finally about mid afternoon, she said “I think we should go back to the hotel so you can have a rest before tonight. I don’t want you passing out on me when we are at the Hippodrome.”

Sharp acquiesced and by 3:30 they were entering the doors of the Chatham. Sharp stiffened and she, holding his arm, looked as he quickly turned into the hotel restaurant. “Did you see?” he said

“See what?”, she asked

“Goatee man”

“Where?”

“Just heading into the elevator”

Carroll nodded at George and he followed her and Sharp to the desk. George heard the request for the key for room 291 and then returned to the waiting Carroll in the restaurant. “That was just luck”, said Carroll. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s great investigation and scientific prowess or just dumb luck”. George nodded and they sat together for a while and then Carroll said “Send a telegram George, to let them know we’ve found Sharp and will give them further information about what’s going on when we find out.”

George didn’t immediately get up and when Carroll said “What is it?”

“Did you think they looked panicked when they came through into the restaurant??

“Now that you mention it….I wonder if one of our Axis boys is in the hotel and they spotted him?”

“That makes sense, because otherwise they would have continued to the desk and picked up their key. Instead they came in here. They certainly didn’t stay very long. Didn’t even go to a table.”

“I think we better watch their trail, George. We could find someone else on it beside us.”

“Sounds good George” said Carroll. He signed the bill and getting up from the table

he nodded his thanks to the maitre de and left the restaurant.

Blueing

Chapter 8  Bluing

      The New York Central eased to a halt, steam blowing into the August morning. They watched as a black Ford drew up to the station and the driver went around to the passenger side and undid handcuffs from the passenger’s wrists. The passenger straightened his vest, stroked his goatee, and rubbed his wrists as he walked with the sheriff to the train. George said “Looks like the boys down here have someone they don’t want to stay in town”

      The goatee man walked past them and sat down across the aisle and two seats back.

      When the conductor came along to punch his ticket, he said “When do we get to New York?”

      Conductor said “It takes about six hours, if we don’t have any mechanical or other problems”

      Carroll sat watching the farms and small towns drift by the window and then said to George. “Go have a chat with Mr. Goatee. He doesn’t fit somehow. Usually vagrants aren’t dressed so well. Find out who he is and where he’s going and why the Rutland constabulary put him on the train”

      George smiled as he took a pack of cards from his pocket. He liked this kind of challenge.

      Outside his window, the rain made rings in the already wet Bloor Street. The rushing water had washed the streets of the usual accumulation of paper and horse dung. Toronto actually didn’t smell too bad once it had a good bath. Adams paced back to the window and gazed out…..still no word. Picking up the phone he rang the operator asked for the confectioner’s number.  “I need 6 crème cakes” he said. “All right I’ll take those. Deliver them to 250 Bloor Street west at 3:00 PM. That’s half an hour from now. You should be able to make that”. He slammed the receiver down missing the quiet click that followed. Putting on his cap and overcoat he locked the door and headed down to the street level. As he got on the trolley, he again missed seeing him step out of the door of the shop next door and follow him. The follower’s cloth cap, working man’s jacket and trousers, didn’t quite hide Mason’s erect posture and military stride.  At the next stop he noticed Mae get on and thought, “They really must want this guy” He looked at her and she gave him a little half smile of recognition. They both stayed on the trolley with Adams until he got to Bloor and Yonge Streets. There Adams moved with the rest of the passengers to the door. Mason followed and noticed Mae get off and cross the street, but follow Adams too. As he moved along Bloor, he tried to blend with the other walkers, but then they turned into the shops and offices along Bloor and he had to drop back and spent a moment looking into a convenient window. Across the street Mae increased her pace. She saw Adams looking at numbers and then enter a hardware store. “Won’t buy any strawberry turnovers in there” she thought. Walking on by the shop she glanced in and saw Adams in conversation with a blond haired young man. She looked back at Mason and then nodded. He went on to the next street, turned and came back the alley behind the hardware store. He waited behind the corner of a shed that housed the hardware’s gig and horse.  Meanwhile Mae noticed a tea room just down the street across from the hardware store. Ordering tea, she sat and watched.

      After checking to see there were no other customers, Adams said “I haven’t heard from you or from your man on the train. What is happening?

      The blond young man grinned at Adams. “Neither have I but don’t worry, Spitzbart  has never let me down. I know he’ll be in touch.”

      They spun around as the door opened and the bell suspended from the lintel was disturbed. A uniformed telegraph delivery boy entered and asked, “Is this the International Hardware Store?”

      The blond young man said “You are in the right place”

      “I have a telegram for you. Please sign here”

      The young man scribbled his name

      Detained by Rutland sheriff 24 hours.

      lost target

      Think have gone to New York am following

      Contact Chatham Hotel, NY

                                                       Spitzbart                                                                                     

      “Is there a reply sir?” the courier asked

      Adams thought for a moment and then said “Send this,

      “Will contact at Chatham”

      “That’s all sir?”, the boy asked

      “Yes, that’s all”

      Across the street Mae saw the boy check the pant clip on his trouser leg, mount his bicycle and ride off. Seeing a phone she gave the clerk 5 cents and dialed a number.

      “Hi Maggie”, she said “could I talk to Dr Mc Nichol please? Hello Doctor This is Mae. Adams just sent a telegram off with a Grand Trunk courier. Could you intercept it? Yes sir. Mason and I will keep track of him. I’ll be in touch sir. Thank you sir”

      She hung up and left the café. The rain had finally stopped. She walked casually across the street and entered the International Hardware Store. Adams was gone, but the blonde young man was still there. “Do you have any bluing?, she asked

      “Certainly,” said the young man and moving to the back of the store he reached into a drawer and came back with the small package. “I’ll wrap it for you, as it gets over everything” he said.

      Paying the young man, she asked “Do you mind if I just go out the back door. My apartment is across the alley”

      “Not at all”, he said. Mae put the package in the handbag and followed him to the back door. “Thank you”, she said and headed across the now steaming yard past the shed. Glancing each way at the lane, she saw the erect figure of Mason walking to the west. About 100 yards ahead of him she saw the retreating  Adams.

     

The Affair at The Chatham

They exited New York’s cathedral to transportation, The Grand Central, just after 10:40 PM. The great station at that time of night was only occupied by the people getting off the train and a few porters. Their steps echoed across the vast expanse of the station. The lights in the shops were off and the huge space had a ghostly feel to it. Sharp asked one of the porters for a moderately inexpensive hotel and was directed to the Chatham.
“We need a room for several nights” Sharp said to the man on the front desk.
“And who would be staying with us sir?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Currie” said Sharp.
“Alright here’s the key and Bert will see you and your ….”, he paused noticing their lack of luggage.
“Oh, the rest of our things will arrive from the station shortly” said the girl
Once in the room she said “Are you a gentleman Mr. Currie?”
He smiled sadly and said “I don’t think you need to worry about anything in that respect, Mrs. Currie”

He looked off out the window for a moment and then he said, “The explosions, the gas, the drink and all of it, have ruined my kidneys , liver and to be frank I haven’t been able to …….. It’s just one of those things that war does”
She said nothing and then when he looked at her, she said “I’m so sorry” she said. “It must be horrid. I wondered when you collapsed at Mrs. Wheatly’s, but I didn’t dare ask. Are you going to be OK?”
“I hope so”
“Can’t they treat your condition?”
“No, nephritis and cirrhosis are untreatable. All I can do is take my tablets if the pain kicks up.”
“Did you bring some with you?”
“I only had a handful when we left Kingston. I took one in Montreal and one at Rutland. I still have half a dozen.”
She knitted her brow and said “Oh dear”. Brightening she observed “Well at least there are two beds. Which one do you want Mr. Currie?”

Sharp slept with the Mauser under his pillow. After a shower and shave, he ordered breakfast and had the Times sent to the room. As she ate, he looked through the paper.
“It sure costs a lot to live in New York. Just look at these prices for bread. Twelve cents a loaf, and butter fifteen cents a pound. I don’t know how people get on here.”
When she didn’t reply, he asked “What is it?”
“I need your help again.”
“Do I have to throw someone off the train?”
She grinned and said “Hopefully not”
“So what heroic task do we need to perform?”
“I have to find Jenny”
“Jenny who?”
“That’s just it, I don’t know. My boss said the name would be in every paper in New York and I was to talk to her boss”
Sharp opened the Times and started to page through. He gave the second section to the girl. Nothing showed anywhere in the front section. She said “Here’s a Jenny. Jenny Lind.”
“But she died years ago”, said Sharp
Sharp took the paper and looked at a theatre ad that said “Flo Bert – The 20th Century’s Jenny Lind performing at the Hippodrome tonight.” He looked at the girl and said “I think that’s rather convoluted if that is the person you’re to see.”
“We need to go there anyway and check it out, “she said. “What time does the show start?”
“It says here 7:00 PM”
“Well, let’s plan to go”
“OK” said Sharp, “but don’t get your hopes up. How are you going to make sure you are to give your message to her?”
“I don’t know yet” she said
“Oh I see Houdini’s also going to be there. Supposed to make an elephant disappear”, observed Sharp.
“Oh certainly” she said “abra ca pachyderm --- poof”
“Do you know how to make an elephant disappear?’ he asked
“How?”
“One bite at a time”, cracked Sharp
“I think we need to take a walk” she smiled