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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77893 ***
+
+
+                              HOT MUSIC
+
+                           By Vic Whitman
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+SIGNALS IN CODE.
+
+
+In one of the broadcasting rooms of Station KYK a famous dance band was
+setting up its instruments preparatory to a half hour’s entertainment.
+The players were laughing and joking, with no need for silence. The
+power had been switched to a little room overhead where Officer Dave
+Cates, official police announcer, was holding forth in code to police
+details all over the great city.
+
+“Nothing further has been done by those in authority about the addition
+of fifty new plain-clothes men to the force,” Cates said into the
+microphone. “Headquarters is inquiring into the matter, however, and
+may be expected to give out more information at any time.”
+
+All of which meant to the listening ears of the police:
+
+“There have been no more developments in the Van Goss jewelry robbery
+of two weeks ago. Headquarters is planning to assign more men to the
+case.”
+
+This was the job of Dave Cates, who was listed on the books as an
+officer solely because of his connection with the department. He was a
+verbal messenger boy, conveying the reports and orders of headquarters
+over the air to the police details of the city. Because plenty of red
+blood flowed through the small body of Officer Cates the job sometimes
+got very tiresome.
+
+If only he could go out on such a case as the Van Goss robbery, he
+would find the action he craved. Then again, the solving of such a case
+with its monetary reward would bring his dream that much nearer; a
+dream intimately concerned with a hazel-eyed, laughing little dancer
+and a white, green-shuttered bungalow with a forty-foot garden plot out
+back.
+
+Probably Anabelle Talbot was listening in to him now. She usually did
+every evening before she went out to the Salon Quintesse to dance to
+the music of Leo Archer’s famous band.
+
+Cates sighed and glanced at the electric clock on the wall. “There is
+yet five minutes of time remaining to us,” he announced, “but since
+there doesn’t seem to be any more----”
+
+He stopped suddenly. Some one had come hurriedly into the little
+telephone room and was talking in excited, petulant tones.
+
+“A woman,” Cates murmured. “Now what the deuce does she want up here?”
+Louder, he said, “Please stand by for one moment.” Then he stepped into
+the telephone room.
+
+A young woman was firing questions at the harassed telephone operator.
+Her clothes, her manner and her intonation, told Cates that she was a
+woman of culture and apparent wealth.
+
+With her was a man in his early thirties. Tall, lean, handsome, with a
+cynical mouth and a complexion that tended to the sallow, Cates
+recognized him instantly as Leo Archer, leader of the dance band which
+was waiting below.
+
+Archer was leaning indolently against the door, obviously bored by the
+proceedings. He stifled a yawn as Cates looked at him.
+
+“Here he is now,” grumbled the operator, “S’pose you talk to him.”
+
+The young woman turned swiftly. “You are Mr. Cates, the police radio
+announcer?” she asked.
+
+“Yes.” Cates noticed that her face was white and distracted, that her
+lips were trembling. He failed however to see that first faint look of
+surprise in her eyes.
+
+It was difficult for most radio listeners to reconcile Dave Cates’
+rich, golden voice with his small, stocky body, his sandy hair and his
+freckled face.
+
+“Yes, I’m Cates,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
+
+“Oh!” Her exclamation was part sob. “I--I came up to tell you that I
+have just been robbed of a very valuable necklace and two diamond
+rings. I thought you might broadcast it to the police. That seemed
+better than--than----” Her voice trailed away.
+
+Cates’ blue eyes lighted with interest. Could this robbery be connected
+with the Van Goss robbery? He thought quickly how strange it was that
+she had happened to report it to him first. He wasn’t superstitious,
+but---- A fleeting picture of the bungalow went through his mind.
+
+“Certainly,” he said promptly. “Your name and address, please?”
+
+“Miss Meusel--Miriam Meusel--apartment No. 8 at the Dutton Arms.”
+
+“Can you describe the robbery briefly, Miss Meusel, and give me any
+clews you may have to the bandit’s appearance? This is just so the
+patrolmen in the vicinity can be notified to watch out for a certain
+type.”
+
+Cates’ coolness seemed to steady the young woman.
+
+“I haven’t any clues or any ideas about it,” she told him. “I just
+returned to my apartment and found out then that the jewelry had been
+taken from my wall compartment.”
+
+“About what time should you say it was taken?”
+
+“Some time between four thirty and eight. That was the time I was out.”
+
+“I see.”
+
+Cates glanced at the clock as he went back to the microphone. He saw
+that the time was eight thirty-three. It would do little good to report
+this robbery by air; still, it would be imparting instantly such meager
+information as he had.
+
+Briefly, in code, Dave Cates announced the robbery. Then he signed off
+for the evening and returned to Miss Meusel and Archer.
+
+“The information has been given, Miss Meusel,” he said. “We can’t do
+much more until we get more facts.”
+
+“That won’t do you any good,” yawned Archer. “You chaps couldn’t see
+anything that was plain before your eyes.”
+
+Cates looked at the man. Naturally hot-headed, he had trouble in
+checking the retort that impulse prompted. Archer’s contemptuous remark
+reflected upon the department and, hence, reflected upon Cates. Then
+and there he accepted the challenge.
+
+He turned to the telephone operator. “Henry, connect me with Captain
+Henessey, will you?”
+
+In a moment the captain’s gruff voice sounded: “Police headquarters.”
+
+“This is Cates,” reported the radio cop. “Get the dope all right?”
+
+“Too well. Where are you now?”
+
+“At KYK.” Cates drew a deep breath and braced himself. “Captain, how’s
+for me to go over and take a look at Miss Meusel’s apartment?”
+
+“You!”
+
+“Sure. I can get the dope for you. I know I can.”
+
+Silence for a moment. Cates could imagine the energetic veteran
+considering.
+
+Presently: “All right, go ahead. You can’t do any worse than the
+others, anyway. And listen; you know how you like to talk when you get
+started? Well, cut it out, and let the others talk. Understand?”
+
+Cates grinned. “Yes, captain,” he said meekly.
+
+“All right, then. Bring me as full a report as you can get.”
+
+Exultantly Cates turned from the phone.
+
+“Now, Miss Meusel,” he said, “if you don’t mind I’ll go over to your
+apartment.”
+
+Archer left them at the door to the KYK studios.
+
+“My band starts broadcasting in ten minutes,” he explained, “otherwise
+I’d go over with you, Miriam.” He grinned sardonically at Dave Cates.
+“Oh, pardon me. I forgot the master mind here.”
+
+“Don’t pay any attention to what he says, Mr. Cates,” urged Miss
+Meusel.
+
+“I don’t,” said Officer Cates quietly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+CRASHING SYNCOPATION.
+
+
+The Dutton Arms was nearby, which probably accounted for Miss Meusel
+coming to the broadcasting studio instead of at once notifying
+headquarters. Her apartment was roomy and furnished in quiet, luxurious
+taste. “Do you live here alone?” Cates asked.
+
+She nodded. “Yes. I play a concert violin and I do all my practicing
+here.” She smiled faintly. “Nobody else would want to be around, even
+though my violin is very old and considered one of the best in tonal
+quality in the country.”
+
+Dave Cates rubbed thoughtfully at his chin. Then, without comment, he
+started to look around the place. Nothing had been disturbed, according
+to Miss Meusel, save that the wall-compartment door was swinging on its
+hinge.
+
+Cates strolled to the window and looked out. The automatic fire escape
+had not been used, as he realized when he tapped the edge of the drawer
+and found that dust clung to his fingers.
+
+Turning from the window he went across the room. A violin case lay on
+the table and Cates gazed idly at it.
+
+Something on the floor caught his attention and he stooped, then looked
+up at the watching girl.
+
+“Have you been playing recently?” he asked.
+
+“No, I’m sorry to confess that I haven’t touched the violin for two
+days,” she answered. “It hasn’t been out of its case.”
+
+Cates sat down.
+
+“Suppose you tell me of your activities between four thirty and eight,”
+he suggested.
+
+Miss Meusel considered for a moment.
+
+“Well,” she began, “about four fifteen Leo Archer phoned and asked me
+to meet him over at the Renhurst, where his band plays for tea dances.
+I put my necklace and rings away, and started out with Mr. Hughes, who
+had called to see me about a business matter.
+
+“In turning to say something to me, Mr. Hughes bumped into that table,
+knocking over a flower vase, a box of candy, and some books. My maid
+was out for the afternoon and evening and since I was in a hurry and
+couldn’t attend to it, Mr. Hughes kindly offered to remain behind and
+clean things up a bit.”
+
+“It looks as if he did, too,” commented Cates negligently. “Do you by
+any chance mean Arthur Hughes?”
+
+“Yes. Do you know him?”
+
+Cates knew of him only by reputation as being wealthy and a somewhat
+eccentric young idler.
+
+“I’ve heard the name,” he replied. “It doesn’t matter. Please go on
+with your story.”
+
+She continued: “I left Mr. Hughes behind and went to the Renhurst,
+where I waited some fifteen minutes for Leo Archer. We had tea and
+afterward we drove out to an inn for dinner with Gerald Terhune--he’s
+the manager of Archer’s band.
+
+“Then, when I returned to the apartment, I found that the jewelry was
+gone.”
+
+“You say you had to wait fifteen minutes for Archer at the Renhurst?”
+
+“About that long--yes. But that’s nothing unusual, for he’s never on
+time. He told me he was up in his office at the Renhurst working on a
+new number he’s writing.”
+
+“A good band leader, isn’t he?”
+
+“Oh, he’s wonderful!” she enthused. “You wouldn’t think to look at him
+that he can direct such a band. Yet his team is one of the jazziest in
+the country. He’s awfully temperamental, though. He can write and score
+the weirdest numbers, but he needs actual inspiration to do it.”
+
+Cates rose and went to the radio. “Do you mind if I tune in on him for
+a moment?” he asked. “I never paid any attention to his band, probably
+because I’m not much of a musician.”
+
+“Of course not.”
+
+                 *       *       *       *       *
+
+Cates turned the dials and presently the music of a dance band filled
+the room. It was crashing syncopation of the first order with a steady
+foundation of piano, banjo, bass, and drums holding solidly beneath a
+structure of silken saxophones, shrilling violins, and cutting
+trumpets.
+
+Despite the worry of her loss, Miriam Meusel’s foot tapped to the tempo
+of the music and her shoulders swayed gracefully.
+
+“Isn’t that marvelous!” she exclaimed.
+
+Musical or not musical Dave Cates could not but feel that compelling
+sweep of the rhythm.
+
+“Hot stuff,” he agreed.
+
+He was frowning a bit as he shut off the radio and reseated himself.
+
+“By the way, Miss Meusel, are there any other keys to this apartment
+besides your own?”
+
+She hesitated, looking at him oddly.
+
+“Yes,” she responded. “My maid has one and the janitor, of course, has
+a pass key.”
+
+“Any others?”
+
+“No.”
+
+“I suppose you have a number of friends who know this apartment quite
+well.”
+
+She became indignant.
+
+“Yes, naturally, but I don’t see what on earth my friends have to do
+with this.”
+
+“Nothing,” murmured the little radio cop. “Nothing at all. Only we have
+to consider everything, you know.”
+
+At that moment someone came to the door, and there was a sound as of a
+key being put into the lock. Miriam Meusel rose hurriedly and went to
+the door where, Cates thought, she made some whispered remark.
+
+Then a short, florid-faced man entered. Seeing Cates, he turned to Miss
+Meusel.
+
+“I didn’t know you were entertaining, Miriam,” he said in a purring
+voice. “Otherwise I would not have called.”
+
+She avoided Cates’ eyes as she made the introduction.
+
+“This is Mr. Cates, Mr. Terhune,” she said. “Mr. Cates is from
+headquarters, Jerry.”
+
+Cates acknowledged the introduction with a quick handshake. He knew of
+Terhune, manager of Archer’s band and recently appointed chairman of
+the general committee for the Charity Ball.
+
+Yet he reacted strongly from this first acquaintance. Terhune’s
+softness, his ingratiating smile, went against Cates’ sturdy grain.
+
+“Ah, the robbery--yes,” said Terhune softly. “A great shame, Miriam,
+and probably the work of some clever, experienced crook. Getting so a
+man hardly dares take his afternoon nap. In fact, this afternoon I
+fancied I heard some one prowling about my room. Doubtless it was
+purely imaginary.”
+
+“May I ask where your room is?” said Cates.
+
+“At the Renhurst, Mr. Cates.”
+
+A loud knock came on the door. Miss Meusel admitted Arthur Hughes, a
+tall, big-shouldered young man with gray eyes, and a suggestion of
+recklessness in his bearing.
+
+“Say, this sure is tough, Miriam!” he burst out impetuously. “About the
+robbery, I mean. I just heard about it and ran in to see if I could
+help out in any way.”
+
+The girl patted his arm.
+
+“You’re a dear, Arthur,” she said, “but Mr. Cates is handling the
+affair.”
+
+Introduced, Cates took a quick inventory of Hughes and found that he
+rather liked him. But perhaps that was because Hughes appeared to good
+advantage when contrasted with Terhune.
+
+“Don’t misunderstand my questions,” Cates said to Hughes, “but I
+understand you were up here this afternoon after Miss Meusel left the
+apartment.”
+
+Hughes grinned boyishly and drew a cigarette case from his pocket.
+
+“I knew I’d come under suspicion,” he remarked. “Yes, I was up here. I
+came because I had heard from some friends of mine in Philadelphia in
+regard to a concert booking for Miss Meusel, and I knew she’d be
+interested.”
+
+“How long were you here after she left the apartment?”
+
+“Oh, a matter of ten or fifteen minutes,” said Hughes indifferently.
+“Just long enough to pick up some things I kicked over.”
+
+“Did you meet any one going out?”
+
+“Not in the building. There were people passing outside.”
+
+Cates nodded. “I see,” he said. “Well, I guess that’s all for now, Miss
+Meusel. I’ll give you a report as soon as possible.”
+
+At the door Cates paused. “By the way, Mr. Terhune,” he asked, “are you
+having Leo Archer play at the Charity Ball?”
+
+Terhune wriggled like a puppy eager to please.
+
+“Why, yes,” he answered. “Don’t you approve?”
+
+“You bet your life I do,” answered Officer Cates with conviction.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+PIPE DOWN!
+
+
+Captain Henessey looked up as Cates came into headquarters. Then he
+threw down his pen, grinned, and leaned back in his chair. The
+stalwart, grizzled veteran liked Cates and secretly admitted that the
+boy had possibilities aside from oratory.
+
+“How’d you make out?” he demanded.
+
+Officer Cates of the wave-length squad dropped down in a handy chair
+and lit a cigarette. Then he drew a deep breath and set himself for
+speech.
+
+“Not so bad, captain,” he said. “To begin with, there are plenty of
+probabilities in connection with this case as I see it; so many, in
+fact, that it’s going to be a tough job to reconcile all of them to the
+distinct end of any definite lead. Now, when it comes to robberies in
+general----”
+
+Captain Henessey interrupted with a bang of his big fist on the desk.
+
+“Must you always begin everything with a public speech?” he roared. “I
+haven’t got time to listen to the history of the world! What I want are
+the facts on this Meusel case. Have you got them or must I crown you
+with the record book?”
+
+Officer Cates grinned, not in the least abashed. He knew the captain
+quite as well as the captain knew him.
+
+“I have ’em and here they are,” he said.
+
+At the conclusion of the story Captain Henessey frowned.
+
+“Let’s see now,” he summed up, “Archer was fifteen minutes late in
+meeting her. Hughes remained behind in the apartment, and Terhune
+evidently had a key that she wouldn’t tell you about. Added to that,
+the maid, the janitor, and other unknowns must be considered.”
+
+“I know,” agreed Cates. He eyed his superior with some speculation.
+Might as well broach what he had in mind now.
+
+“Any objections if I go on this case unofficially?” he asked, hoping he
+sounded casual.
+
+Captain Henessey glared at him. “What are you talking about!” he
+demanded.
+
+“Just what I say,” answered Cates sturdily. “I’ve got ideas and plenty
+of spare time and I’d like to put ’em both to work. Somebody’s got to
+solve the thing and it might as well be me.”
+
+“Well, speaking of nerve----”
+
+“Sure,” retorted Cates. “A guy’s got to have it these days. Just look
+back along the ages and consider the men who have put themselves
+forward. Look where they got! See what they did! Consider Julius
+Caesar, for example. Why, he----”
+
+“All right,” said the captain hastily. “This is no debate.”
+
+Thoughtfully he toyed with a pencil on his desk. Recalling the Margolo
+gang affair, the captain realized that his small radio cop had police
+stuff in him. The point was to bring him along gradually; not let him
+get discouraged too many times.
+
+“Suppose you tell me some of your ideas on this case, lad,” he
+suggested.
+
+Cates’ reply was instant. “Sure thing. I think that whoever took that
+jewelry had a key to the apartment; I think that both robberies were
+done by the same person or persons.
+
+“To-morrow, if you don’t object, I’m going to talk to Mrs. Van Goss and
+try to make the two robberies dovetail.
+
+“Also, I’m going to put a lot of time on that key Terhune had. And
+finally, I won’t interfere in the least with the work the other men are
+doing. Only--only----”
+
+“Only what?”
+
+“If I run down these jewels, I’d like to claim the reward myself. You
+see, captain----” He hesitated and blushed like a schoolboy.
+
+“Yes, I see a lot that you don’t think I see, lad,” observed the
+captain gravely, though with a twinkle in his shrewd eyes. “She’s a
+fine little girl, and I wish you luck. Run along to her now and
+consider yourself on the case.”
+
+                 *       *       *       *       *
+
+Early the next afternoon Dave Cates presented himself at the apartment
+of Mrs. Van Goss--a sparkling little widow who rumor had it, had
+received an immense fortune with the death of her husband. She met
+Cates pleasantly enough, though with a questioning lift of well-placed
+eyebrows.
+
+“I’m from headquarters, Mrs. Van Goss,” he explained. “May I ask you a
+few questions?”
+
+She sighed. “Dear me, I’ve answered hundreds of questions since my
+apartment was broken into. But go ahead and I’ll tell you what I can.”
+
+“I’ll try to be brief.”
+
+He smiled, and she smiled in return. Somehow Cates’ twisted little grin
+reflected the richness of his voice, and few people could resist the
+combination.
+
+“Now,” he continued, “was it a phone message that called you out on the
+day of the robbery?”
+
+“It was.”
+
+“Would you mind telling me who the call was from?”
+
+“Not a bit,” she answered promptly. “It was from Mr. Hughes.”
+
+“Arthur Hughes?”
+
+“Yes. He was asking me to have tea with him at the Renhurst.”
+
+Cates felt a quick excitement that his voice did not betray.
+
+“Your jewels were taken during your absence, I presume,” he said.
+
+“They were. I returned here about six as I recall it.”
+
+“I see. Do you happen to know Leo Archer, or Terhune, or Miss Meusel
+very well?”
+
+“Oh, yes, I know them all very well indeed,” said Mrs. Van Goss. “In
+fact we’re in and out of each other’s places all the time.”
+
+“Are there any other keys to this apartment besides the ones your maid
+and the janitor have?”
+
+“No.”
+
+“Do you always carry your key with you when you go out Mrs. Van Goss?”
+
+“I do now,” she confessed with a rueful little laugh. “Before the
+robbery I always left my key out in a potted plant in the corridor,
+simply because I seem to have a propensity for losing keys.”
+
+“Which is unfortunate, sometimes,” smiled Dave Cates. “I think that’s
+all, Mrs. Van Goss, and thank you very much.”
+
+She went with him to the door. “I hope you have learned something of
+value to you,” she said. “Good afternoon.”
+
+                 *       *       *       *       *
+
+Outside, Cates’ smile faded as he realized that the thing was in more
+or less of a tangle. He had become convinced that the same man
+committed both robberies--due to the likeness of the two telephone
+calls and the fact that the robberies were almost identical in points
+of time and circumstance.
+
+Going strictly by formula Hughes was the obvious suspect, since he had
+phoned Mrs. Van Goss and since he had been in Miss Meusel’s apartment
+after she had left it.
+
+But it was a bit too obvious to satisfy Cates, regardless of the fact
+that Captain Henessey’s best men were constantly watching Hughes.
+
+Much more pertinent to him was Miss Meusel’s denial of any one’s
+possession of a key other than her own.
+
+Walking slowly, Cates reasoned. If only he could locate those jewels
+the rest would be easy. The only way he might do that was to carry out
+the idea he had in mind--a dangerous but possibly effective plan. That
+plan, in brief, was to search a man’s rooms.
+
+He hesitated, then his bulldog jaw squared. After all, he was working
+toward that little white bungalow, and that was worth any risk. If he
+could get evidence this way, so much the better.
+
+Within the next hour Officer Cates had found the place he wanted, had
+made sure no one was around, and had entered by means of a skeleton
+key.
+
+He searched hurriedly but thoroughly, taking care to replace everything
+he overturned, in order that the occupant might not become suspicious.
+
+Finished, Cates scratched his sandy head and swore.
+
+“The son of a gun!” he muttered. “I was sure there’d be something up
+here. This knocks everything into a cocked hat.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+ZOWIE!
+
+
+Dejectedly Cates returned to headquarters to make his report to Captain
+Henessey. The captain laughed. “Don’t take it so much to heart, lad,”
+he encouraged. “Sometimes it requires weeks, months, years to untangle
+one of these things.”
+
+“I suppose so,” nodded Cates despondently. “Say, captain, what makes a
+crook, anyway?”
+
+Captain Henessey eyed his little radio officer uncertainly.
+
+“So help me, you can ask some of the damnedest questions I ever heard
+of!” he ejaculated.
+
+Then, seeing that Cates was in earnest, he went on more kindly: “If you
+must know, Dave, there’s probably a million different things, as you’ll
+find out when you’ve been in this business as long as I have.
+Environment, moods, impulses, hatred, hunger, needs excitement,
+mental--why, what’s the trouble? Got an idea?”
+
+For Dave Cates had suddenly sat bolt upright his blue eyes eager.
+
+“I’ll say I have! How good it is I don’t know, but I’m going to sock it
+for all it’s worth. Listen.”
+
+Captain Henessey didn’t scoff at the plan. He was much too experienced
+in police work for that.
+
+“Not bad at all, lad,” he acknowledged. “It may not work, but then
+again it may. Anyway, I’ll see that a microphone is installed where you
+want it.”
+
+Cates looked at his watch.
+
+“Time for the broadcast, captain,” he said. “Give me the stuff you’ve
+got ready. Afterward, I think I’ll take a run out to the Salon
+Quintesse and listen to Leo Archer. I’m getting to know quite a lot
+about music.”
+
+Syndicate Park, where the Salon Quintesse was located, was a-glitter
+when Cates arrived. It was a warm evening and couples were sauntering
+through the grove during the intermission between dances.
+
+A big car came roaring up the drive to give forth its cargo of
+laughing, voluble, noisy youngsters. Down by the river some one was
+playing a ukulele and the mellow chords blended oddly with the booming
+music of Leo Archer’s band.
+
+Cates went quietly into the big hall and sat down at a corner table. He
+was an unobtrusive little figure and nobody paid the least bit of
+attention to him.
+
+The room was filled with amusement seekers, most of them in evening
+dress. There were laughing faces, flushed faces, sad, serious, and
+vindictive faces but Cates gave them little thought.
+
+He was watching the tall lean figure of Leo Archer as the band leader
+put his men through their paces.
+
+It was a wonderful band, Cates thought. Hot music, probably none hotter
+in the country. Funny that Archer could get such effects when he was
+such a bored, cynical guy. Almost beyond understanding, but not quite.
+
+Dave Cates became a bit wistful. He wished he had such talent as
+Archer’s. It must be great to be up there leading a band like that.
+Even music that boomed and crashed seemed connected with that vague
+green-shuttered bungalow with the garden plot out back.
+
+Then a slim, graceful little figure slipped out on the floor and began
+to dance. Cates sat forward, his eyes sparkling with pride. If anybody
+could beat Anabelle Talbot’s dancing, he’d like to know it!
+
+It was one of the world’s prize mysteries, why she accepted his
+attentions, but since she did he’d not question his blessings. She was
+a dream girl suddenly come to life--his dream girl.
+
+Whirling, pivoting, gliding, she moved about the floor, smiling
+steadily as one who dances must smile. Then she saw the little radio
+cop sitting alone in the corner, and her smile became radiant.
+
+Lightly she blew him a kiss, finished her dance to a mad burst of
+syncopation, and skipped into her dressing room.
+
+“Gee!” exclaimed Dave Cates softly. “Gee!”
+
+In a few minutes she came out of the dressing room and hurried over to
+Cates’ table. Grinning broadly, he rose to greet her.
+
+“You sure can dance, Ann!” he told her. “Boy, how you can dance!”
+
+Hazel eyes sparkled up at him and a red little mouth crinkled at the
+corners.
+
+“I’m glad you think so, Dave,” she said. “Just the same I wish I didn’t
+have to do it. Oh, did I tell you that Leo Archer wants me to sign a
+contract to dance exclusively to his music?”
+
+Cates shook his head. “No, you didn’t,” he said slowly. “Are you going
+to sign?”
+
+“I don’t want to, Dave. But you know a girl must do something.” She
+stopped and studied his face. “Anyway,” she finished, “he gave me until
+the Charity Ball to decide.”
+
+“Which is just a couple of days anyway,” mused Cates. “Say, Ann, when
+did he offer you this contract?”
+
+“Yesterday,” she answered. “He called me up to his office at the
+Renhurst.”
+
+“At what time?”
+
+She looked wonderingly across the table. “Why all curiosity about it,
+Dave?”
+
+“I’ll explain some time, Ann. What time was it?”
+
+“Why, shortly after four o’clock, I think.”
+
+“How long were you there?”
+
+“Only a few minutes. He was working feverishly on a new number he
+expects to introduce at the Charity Ball. He offered me this contract,
+and told me I could take it or leave it. Then he gave me till the
+Charity Ball to decide.”
+
+Suppressed excitement was in Dave Cates’ voice. “Did any one come in
+while you were there?” he asked.
+
+She considered.
+
+“N-no,” she said presently. “That is, nobody but a bell boy who had a
+little package that he gave Archer.”
+
+“Wow!” Cates smacked his fist jubilantly into the palm of his hand.
+“I’ve got it now; sure as the deuce I have! What a break this is!
+Zingo!”
+
+He reached across the table and took both her hands, caring not what
+people around might think. “Gee, you’re a dear, and a sweetheart, and
+how you’d fit into that little bunga----”
+
+“Dave, behave! What in the world ails you!”
+
+“Nothing, honey. I can’t tell you yet, but the first thing I’m going to
+plant is tomatoes. Zowie!”
+
+                 *       *       *       *       *
+
+Greatly as the city was interested in the Van Goss-Meusel jewel
+robberies, the interest in the Charity Ball overshadowed all else. It
+was an annual affair and tradition and skillful publicity had built it
+up to a point where attendance was a matter of civic pride. A hundred
+social leaders served as patronesses; the best show talent in town was
+secured for the acts; and the general populace prepared for a gala
+night.
+
+As chairman of the general committee, Terhune bustled around attending
+to this and that, a smile of smug importance on his florid face. Had he
+not been so preoccupied he might have noticed that he was trailed by a
+small, stocky figure, homely and determined of face.
+
+At this last hour Dave Cates was overlooking no bets. Not only did he
+watch Terhune, but he kept an eye on Miss Meusel and Leo Archer. To
+Hughes he paid no attention.
+
+“It’s got to break right,” was his constant thought. “When anything
+means as much to a guy as this does to me, it’s got to break right.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+HOT MUSIC.
+
+
+The Spanish room of the Greystark, the most magnificent hotel in town,
+was engaged. At eight o’clock on the night of the event the huge
+ballroom was nearly filled. Gaudy decorations had transformed the room
+into a great hacienda; brilliant streamers waved and floated and
+intertwined in a glowing mass of color.
+
+Gay parties met and chatted, and the hum of steady conversation
+provided an accompaniment for all other sounds--the tuning of the
+instruments, the ceaseless rumble of passing traffic, the occasional
+clear laugh of a woman.
+
+Up on the specially constructed platform, Leo Archer and his band were
+making ready. As always, Archer looked extremely bored and cynical. A
+sneering smile edged his lips as he looked out upon the festivities.
+Now and then he said something to the radio announcer of KYK, who faced
+a microphone just to the left of the platform.
+
+On the floor Terhune was moving about from group to group, greeting all
+and sundry with his fixed smile. Over in a corner were Hughes and the
+dazzling young widow, Mrs. Van Goss.
+
+Dave Cates could take in the whole scene from where he was sitting--up
+in an obscure little balcony with the curtains drawn just enough to
+permit of concealment. Before him, too, was a microphone, and beside
+him was a little lever by which he could switch the control instantly
+from the floor announcer to himself.
+
+“Some gang, isn’t it, Ann?” he grinned, “Hadn’t you rather be down
+there with ’em than sitting up here just looking on?”
+
+“Don’t be silly, Dave,” she said softly, smiling at him.
+
+She was rather puzzled at all this, the microphone and the partly drawn
+curtains; but she asked no questions, realizing that Cates was on
+police duty of some sort.
+
+With a crash of cymbal the band went into a modern, popular trot. The
+blue eyes of Officer Cates went to Archer. For all his boredom the man
+was a genius, and he was at his best to-night.
+
+Leading his band with the baton, his eyes gleaming to the cutting
+thrusts of the trumpets, to the sense-lulling croon of the saxophones,
+to the twang of the banjo, he was a master of jazz.
+
+Then the music softened and a hokum man stepped to the front of the
+platform, singing:
+
+    “The moon was new
+    And so was love.
+    This eager heart of mine was singing
+    Lover where can you be--ee----”
+
+                 *       *       *       *       *
+
+Cates glanced at Anabelle Talbot. In that music he could feel the
+expression of a longing--of a longing that was universal and poignant.
+Well, he knew what it was. He knew from the sudden throb in his temples
+as Anabelle’s hazel eyes met his for the briefest of instants. The
+age-old, deathless search for an ideal--and the ideal was here by his
+side.
+
+    “Oh, lover come back to me.”
+
+Then the trumpets caught up the chorus and tossed it tempestuously
+about. Booming, thrilling, haunting music! No wonder Leo Archer was
+called a genius; no wonder he could name his own salary.
+
+With a swirling rush of syncopation that died abruptly on a piercing,
+sustained note, the number ended. Thunderous applause broke out,
+applause in which Dave Cates joined.
+
+“Gee, that music gets me!” he exclaimed.
+
+Miss Talbot nodded understandingly.
+
+“It gets me, too, Dave,” she said. “But wait until you hear the number
+he’s just written. He wrote it in three days, they say. The title of it
+is ‘Hot Music.’”
+
+Officer Cates stared, then threw back his head and laughed.
+
+“Well, if that’s not a pip!” he cried. “Lady, lady, that one wins the
+world! I’ve got to hand it to him, he’s good.”
+
+“Why, what in the world----”
+
+“You’ll find out shortly, Ann,” chuckled Gates. “Yes, very shortly.”
+
+He pushed the curtain a bit to one side and scrutinized the crowd
+carefully. Ah, there she was--the woman he was looking for! She had
+just stepped in front of the band platform where Archer could hear her,
+and she was saying something to her companion. Then the two of them
+moved near Terhune and spoke again.
+
+Dave Cates grew tense. Watching like a hawk he saw that Archer was
+stirring restlessly about, that Terhune seemed uneasy. In a moment
+Terhune left the hall.
+
+Archer faced his band and held out his baton. The instruments came to
+attention. Down came the baton and seemed to strike forth a coherent
+cataclysm of sound from brass and strings. Flaring, the music rose to
+the heavens. Then, with the introduction well under way, Leo Archer
+laid down his baton and went hurriedly from the hall.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+STRONG EXCITEMENT.
+
+
+Annabelle Talbot seized Cates by the arm.
+
+“Oh, it’s his new number, Dave,” she exclaimed. “It’s ‘Hot Music’!”
+
+Dave Cates grinned widely. “Great!” he answered. “I’ll never forget
+it.”
+
+Reaching down he snapped the lever that swung the control to himself.
+
+Into the microphone he said simply: “Cates speaking. Leo Archer’s band
+is now playing ‘Hot Music.’”
+
+Then he switched the control back to the man on the floor, and the
+thousands who were listening in gave little thought to the
+interruption.
+
+But Cates’ words started things at headquarters. Captain Henessey came
+to his feet with a bound, and roared orders at three plain-clothes men,
+who rushed for the door.
+
+Five minutes, ten minutes, a half hour, and then Captain Henessey poked
+his grizzled head into the little balcony.
+
+“Got him dead to rights, Dave, and recovered every piece of jewelry,”
+he announced with poorly concealed jubilation. “You had the right dope,
+boy, and don’t forget it.” The captain smiled at Anabelle Talbot. “You
+don’t mind if we clear up a point or two, do you?” he asked.
+
+She rose uncertainly. “If you’d rather talk business by yourselves----”
+
+“You sit right where you are,” said Captain Henessey genially. “You’ll
+be prouder than ever of this boy when he finishes his story. Go ahead,
+Dave, and let’s hear how you worked it out.”
+
+It has been said that Officer Cates liked to talk. And who is there who
+can blame him for wanting to outdo himself while the lovely Anabelle
+was listening?
+
+He cleared his throat and cut loose: “It’s this way, captain. We know
+that Hughes phoned Mrs. Van Goss in that first robbery. Our friend knew
+of it--maybe accidentally, maybe not--and hit upon the scheme of
+robbing her apartment.
+
+“It seems that Archer can play and write better music after strong
+excitement of some sort. Anyway, he knew the lay of the land, the time
+the widow was going out, and where she left the key. The rest was easy.
+
+“Since Archer got such a kick out of that robbery, he decided to do
+another and plan it all himself. He knew that Terhune was in the habit
+of taking a nap, and he bribed a bell hop to get Terhune’s key book for
+him. Anabelle, here, was in his office when the bell hop passed in the
+keys.
+
+“Then Archer made the date with Miss Meusel to meet him, saying he had
+a business conference on and couldn’t call for her.
+
+“Luckily, Hughes was out of the apartment by the time Archer got there.
+He got the jewels and started out, but saw that rare old violin of Miss
+Meusel’s and couldn’t resist trying it out, being the musician that he
+is.
+
+“In doing so Archer spilled just enough of the resin for me to see. I
+began to think something was phony when Miss Meusel told me she hadn’t
+touched the violin for two days.
+
+“Still I kept on eye on the others, too. The main thing was that I
+couldn’t figure out what he’d done with the jewelry. I didn’t think
+he’d hock it or sell it, but when I took a chance and searched his
+rooms nothing was there. Then I got a rush of brains to the head. If he
+swiped the jewels to get inspiration to write better music, he’d
+naturally keep ’em handy, where he could look at ’em. Funny, but some
+guys are that way.
+
+“I knew that there was an iron safe in his office and that I couldn’t
+get into it. So, knowing that the jewelry would be on his mind, I got a
+plant to go down on the floor tonight and mention casually that she’d
+heard the police had found the jewelry of the Van Goss-Meusel
+robberies.
+
+“Sure enough, Archer hustled over to his office to check up on it. I
+guess that’s all.”
+
+“But how about Terhune having a key to the apartment and why should
+Miss Meusel want it kept quiet?” demanded the captain.
+
+Cates grinned. “They were married,” he answered. “I checked up on it at
+the City Hall. Because of concert bookings and other things they
+decided to keep it secret for a while.”
+
+“Then how did Archer know that Terhune had the key?”
+
+“Because he stood up with Terhune at the marriage, and they made him
+promise to keep quiet about it.”
+
+Anabelle Talbot’s lovely eyes had been widening during the recital.
+
+“Do you mean that Leo Archer was the robber?” she said breathlessly.
+
+“He was, Miss Talbot, and he had the earmarks of a good one, too,”
+nodded the captain. “As the lad here has said, Archer wanted excitement
+and felt he could put out better music under its spell.”
+
+“I never liked him,” said the girl slowly, “but I didn’t think he’d do
+anything like this.”
+
+“You never can tell,” observed Captain Henessey. He rose. “Well, Dave,
+you’ll get a good sum out of this. That ought to be enough to----”
+
+He stopped, gazing from the red-faced little radio cop to the wondering
+girl, and grinning broadly.
+
+“Oh, well, I guess you two can settle that yourselves.” With a nod he
+was gone.
+
+Anabelle Talbot looked inquiringly at Cates.
+
+“What was he talking about?” she asked.
+
+“Gee, I don’t know, honey,” stammered Officer Cates of the radio squad.
+“Maybe he meant that you wouldn’t have to sign any contract to dance.
+You see, I’m going out to-morrow to take a look at a little bungalow
+and if you--an’--if you know what I mean by----”
+
+Miss Talbot’s cheeks became the color of a red, red rose, and her hazel
+eyes softened wonderfully.
+
+“I think I understand, Dave,” she murmured. “I’d like to see the
+bungalow.”
+
+“Gee!” marveled Dave Cates some moments later. “Gee! I can’t even carry
+a tune and just think what made this possible!”
+
+“What, dear?”
+
+“Hot Music!” finished Officer Cates in tones of awe.
+
+
+[Transcriber’s note: This story appeared in the First September Number
+of _Top-Notch_ magazine.]
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77893 ***
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+<meta charset="UTF-8">
+<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
+<title>Hot Music</title>
+<style>
+  body { margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 11%; line-height: 1.25; }
+  h1 { margin-bottom: 0; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;
+       font-size: 1.4em; margin-top: 1em;}
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+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77893 ***</div>
+<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' style="width:80%; margin-left:10%"
+alt='dancer in a cabaret talking to a patron at a table'>
+<div class='titlepage'>
+<h1>HOT MUSIC</h1>
+<div class='tac fs11'>By Vic Whitman</div>
+</div>
+<h2>CHAPTER I.<br>SIGNALS IN CODE.</h2>
+<p>In one of the broadcasting rooms of Station KYK a famous dance band was
+setting up its instruments preparatory to a half hour’s entertainment.
+The players were laughing and joking, with no need for silence. The
+power had been switched to a little room overhead where Officer Dave
+Cates, official police announcer, was holding forth in code to police
+details all over the great city.</p>
+<p>“Nothing further has been done by those in authority about the addition
+of fifty new plain-clothes men to the force,” Cates said into the
+microphone. “Headquarters is inquiring into the matter, however, and
+may be expected to give out more information at any time.”</p>
+<p>All of which meant to the listening ears of the police:</p>
+<p>“There have been no more developments in the Van Goss jewelry robbery
+of two weeks ago. Headquarters is planning to assign more men to the
+case.”</p>
+<p>This was the job of Dave Cates, who was listed on the books as an
+officer solely because of his connection with the department. He was a
+verbal messenger boy, conveying the reports and orders of headquarters
+over the air to the police details of the city. Because plenty of red
+blood flowed through the small body of Officer Cates the job sometimes
+got very tiresome.</p>
+<p>If only he could go out on such a case as the Van Goss robbery, he
+would find the action he craved. Then again, the solving of such a case
+with its monetary reward would bring his dream that much nearer; a
+dream intimately concerned with a hazel-eyed, laughing little dancer
+and a white, green-shuttered bungalow with a forty-foot garden plot out
+back.</p>
+<p>Probably Anabelle Talbot was listening in to him now. She usually did
+every evening before she went out to the Salon Quintesse to dance to
+the music of Leo Archer’s famous band.</p>
+<p>Cates sighed and glanced at the electric clock on the wall. “There is
+yet five minutes of time remaining to us,” he announced, “but since
+there doesn’t seem to be any more——”</p>
+<p>He stopped suddenly. Some one had come hurriedly into the little
+telephone room and was talking in excited, petulant tones.</p>
+<p>“A woman,” Cates murmured. “Now what the deuce does she want up here?”
+Louder, he said, “Please stand by for one moment.” Then he stepped into
+the telephone room.</p>
+<p>A young woman was firing questions at the harassed telephone operator.
+Her clothes, her manner and her intonation, told Cates that she was a
+woman of culture and apparent wealth.</p>
+<p>With her was a man in his early thirties. Tall, lean, handsome, with a
+cynical mouth and a complexion that tended to the sallow, Cates
+recognized him instantly as Leo Archer, leader of the dance band which
+was waiting below.</p>
+<p>Archer was leaning indolently against the door, obviously bored by the
+proceedings. He stifled a yawn as Cates looked at him.</p>
+<p>“Here he is now,” grumbled the operator, “S’pose you talk to him.”</p>
+<p>The young woman turned swiftly. “You are Mr. Cates, the police radio
+announcer?” she asked.</p>
+<p>“Yes.” Cates noticed that her face was white and distracted, that her
+lips were trembling. He failed however to see that first faint look of
+surprise in her eyes.</p>
+<p>It was difficult for most radio listeners to reconcile Dave Cates’
+rich, golden voice with his small, stocky body, his sandy hair and his
+freckled face.</p>
+<p>“Yes, I’m Cates,” he said. “What can I do for you?”</p>
+<p>“Oh!” Her exclamation was part sob. “I—I came up to tell you that I
+have just been robbed of a very valuable necklace and two diamond
+rings. I thought you might broadcast it to the police. That seemed
+better than—than——” Her voice trailed away.</p>
+<p>Cates’ blue eyes lighted with interest. Could this robbery be connected
+with the Van Goss robbery? He thought quickly how strange it was that
+she had happened to report it to him first. He wasn’t superstitious,
+but——&nbsp;A fleeting picture of the bungalow went through his mind.</p>
+<p>“Certainly,” he said promptly. “Your name and address, please?”</p>
+<p>“Miss Meusel—Miriam Meusel—apartment No. 8 at the Dutton Arms.”</p>
+<p>“Can you describe the robbery briefly, Miss Meusel, and give me any
+clews you may have to the bandit’s appearance? This is just so the
+patrolmen in the vicinity can be notified to watch out for a certain
+type.”</p>
+<p>Cates’ coolness seemed to steady the young woman.</p>
+<p>“I haven’t any clues or any ideas about it,” she told him. “I just
+returned to my apartment and found out then that the jewelry had been
+taken from my wall compartment.”</p>
+<p>“About what time should you say it was taken?”</p>
+<p>“Some time between four thirty and eight. That was the time I was out.”</p>
+<p>“I see.”</p>
+<p>Cates glanced at the clock as he went back to the microphone. He saw
+that the time was eight thirty-three. It would do little good to report
+this robbery by air; still, it would be imparting instantly such meager
+information as he had.</p>
+<p>Briefly, in code, Dave Cates announced the robbery. Then he signed off
+for the evening and returned to Miss Meusel and Archer.</p>
+<p>“The information has been given, Miss Meusel,” he said. “We can’t do
+much more until we get more facts.”</p>
+<p>“That won’t do you any good,” yawned Archer. “You chaps couldn’t see
+anything that was plain before your eyes.”</p>
+<p>Cates looked at the man. Naturally hot-headed, he had trouble in
+checking the retort that impulse prompted. Archer’s contemptuous remark
+reflected upon the department and, hence, reflected upon Cates. Then
+and there he accepted the challenge.</p>
+<p>He turned to the telephone operator. “Henry, connect me with Captain
+Henessey, will you?”</p>
+<p>In a moment the captain’s gruff voice sounded: “Police headquarters.”</p>
+<p>“This is Cates,” reported the radio cop. “Get the dope all right?”</p>
+<p>“Too well. Where are you now?”</p>
+<p>“At KYK.” Cates drew a deep breath and braced himself. “Captain, how’s
+for me to go over and take a look at Miss Meusel’s apartment?”</p>
+<p>“You!”</p>
+<p>“Sure. I can get the dope for you. I know I can.”</p>
+<p>Silence for a moment. Cates could imagine the energetic veteran
+considering.</p>
+<p>Presently: “All right, go ahead. You can’t do any worse than the
+others, anyway. And listen; you know how you like to talk when you get
+started? Well, cut it out, and let the others talk. Understand?”</p>
+<p>Cates grinned. “Yes, captain,” he said meekly.</p>
+<p>“All right, then. Bring me as full a report as you can get.”</p>
+<p>Exultantly Cates turned from the phone.</p>
+<p>“Now, Miss Meusel,” he said, “if you don’t mind I’ll go over to your
+apartment.”</p>
+<p>Archer left them at the door to the KYK studios.</p>
+<p>“My band starts broadcasting in ten minutes,” he explained, “otherwise
+I’d go over with you, Miriam.” He grinned sardonically at Dave Cates.
+“Oh, pardon me. I forgot the master mind here.”</p>
+<p>“Don’t pay any attention to what he says, Mr. Cates,” urged Miss
+Meusel.</p>
+<p>“I don’t,” said Officer Cates quietly.</p>
+<h2>CHAPTER II.<br>CRASHING SYNCOPATION.</h2>
+<p>The Dutton Arms was nearby, which probably accounted for Miss Meusel
+coming to the broadcasting studio instead of at once notifying
+headquarters. Her apartment was roomy and furnished in quiet, luxurious
+taste. “Do you live here alone?” Cates asked.</p>
+<p>She nodded. “Yes. I play a concert violin and I do all my practicing
+here.” She smiled faintly. “Nobody else would want to be around, even
+though my violin is very old and considered one of the best in tonal
+quality in the country.”</p>
+<p>Dave Cates rubbed thoughtfully at his chin. Then, without comment, he
+started to look around the place. Nothing had been disturbed, according
+to Miss Meusel, save that the wall-compartment door was swinging on its
+hinge.</p>
+<p>Cates strolled to the window and looked out. The automatic fire escape
+had not been used, as he realized when he tapped the edge of the drawer
+and found that dust clung to his fingers.</p>
+<p>Turning from the window he went across the room. A violin case lay on
+the table and Cates gazed idly at it.</p>
+<p>Something on the floor caught his attention and he stooped, then looked
+up at the watching girl.</p>
+<p>“Have you been playing recently?” he asked.</p>
+<p>“No, I’m sorry to confess that I haven’t touched the violin for two
+days,” she answered. “It hasn’t been out of its case.”</p>
+<p>Cates sat down.</p>
+<p>“Suppose you tell me of your activities between four thirty and eight,”
+he suggested.</p>
+<p>Miss Meusel considered for a moment.</p>
+<p>“Well,” she began, “about four fifteen Leo Archer phoned and asked me
+to meet him over at the Renhurst, where his band plays for tea dances.
+I put my necklace and rings away, and started out with Mr. Hughes, who
+had called to see me about a business matter.</p>
+<p>“In turning to say something to me, Mr. Hughes bumped into that table,
+knocking over a flower vase, a box of candy, and some books. My maid
+was out for the afternoon and evening and since I was in a hurry and
+couldn’t attend to it, Mr. Hughes kindly offered to remain behind and
+clean things up a bit.”</p>
+<p>“It looks as if he did, too,” commented Cates negligently. “Do you by
+any chance mean Arthur Hughes?”</p>
+<p>“Yes. Do you know him?”</p>
+<p>Cates knew of him only by reputation as being wealthy and a somewhat
+eccentric young idler.</p>
+<p>“I’ve heard the name,” he replied. “It doesn’t matter. Please go on
+with your story.”</p>
+<p>She continued: “I left Mr. Hughes behind and went to the Renhurst,
+where I waited some fifteen minutes for Leo Archer. We had tea and
+afterward we drove out to an inn for dinner with Gerald Terhune—he’s
+the manager of Archer’s band.</p>
+<p>“Then, when I returned to the apartment, I found that the jewelry was
+gone.”</p>
+<p>“You say you had to wait fifteen minutes for Archer at the Renhurst?”</p>
+<p>“About that long—yes. But that’s nothing unusual, for he’s never on
+time. He told me he was up in his office at the Renhurst working on a
+new number he’s writing.”</p>
+<p>“A good band leader, isn’t he?”</p>
+<p>“Oh, he’s wonderful!” she enthused. “You wouldn’t think to look at him
+that he can direct such a band. Yet his team is one of the jazziest in
+the country. He’s awfully temperamental, though. He can write and score
+the weirdest numbers, but he needs actual inspiration to do it.”</p>
+<p>Cates rose and went to the radio. “Do you mind if I tune in on him for
+a moment?” he asked. “I never paid any attention to his band, probably
+because I’m not much of a musician.”</p>
+<p>“Of course not.”</p>
+<hr class='tb'>
+<p>Cates turned the dials and presently the music of a dance band filled
+the room. It was crashing syncopation of the first order with a steady
+foundation of piano, banjo, bass, and drums holding solidly beneath a
+structure of silken saxophones, shrilling violins, and cutting
+trumpets.</p>
+<p>Despite the worry of her loss, Miriam Meusel’s foot tapped to the tempo
+of the music and her shoulders swayed gracefully.</p>
+<p>“Isn’t that marvelous!” she exclaimed.</p>
+<p>Musical or not musical Dave Cates could not but feel that compelling
+sweep of the rhythm.</p>
+<p>“Hot stuff,” he agreed.</p>
+<p>He was frowning a bit as he shut off the radio and reseated himself.</p>
+<p>“By the way, Miss Meusel, are there any other keys to this apartment
+besides your own?”</p>
+<p>She hesitated, looking at him oddly.</p>
+<p>“Yes,” she responded. “My maid has one and the janitor, of course, has
+a pass key.”</p>
+<p>“Any others?”</p>
+<p>“No.”</p>
+<p>“I suppose you have a number of friends who know this apartment quite
+well.”</p>
+<p>She became indignant.</p>
+<p>“Yes, naturally, but I don’t see what on earth my friends have to do
+with this.”</p>
+<p>“Nothing,” murmured the little radio cop. “Nothing at all. Only we have
+to consider everything, you know.”</p>
+<p>At that moment someone came to the door, and there was a sound as of a
+key being put into the lock. Miriam Meusel rose hurriedly and went to
+the door where, Cates thought, she made some whispered remark.</p>
+<p>Then a short, florid-faced man entered. Seeing Cates, he turned to Miss
+Meusel.</p>
+<p>“I didn’t know you were entertaining, Miriam,” he said in a purring
+voice. “Otherwise I would not have called.”</p>
+<p>She avoided Cates’ eyes as she made the introduction.</p>
+<p>“This is Mr. Cates, Mr. Terhune,” she said. “Mr. Cates is from
+headquarters, Jerry.”</p>
+<p>Cates acknowledged the introduction with a quick handshake. He knew of
+Terhune, manager of Archer’s band and recently appointed chairman of
+the general committee for the Charity Ball.</p>
+<p>Yet he reacted strongly from this first acquaintance. Terhune’s
+softness, his ingratiating smile, went against Cates’ sturdy grain.</p>
+<p>“Ah, the robbery—yes,” said Terhune softly. “A great shame, Miriam,
+and probably the work of some clever, experienced crook. Getting so a
+man hardly dares take his afternoon nap. In fact, this afternoon I
+fancied I heard some one prowling about my room. Doubtless it was
+purely imaginary.”</p>
+<p>“May I ask where your room is?” said Cates.</p>
+<p>“At the Renhurst, Mr. Cates.”</p>
+<p>A loud knock came on the door. Miss Meusel admitted Arthur Hughes, a
+tall, big-shouldered young man with gray eyes, and a suggestion of
+recklessness in his bearing.</p>
+<p>“Say, this sure is tough, Miriam!” he burst out impetuously. “About the
+robbery, I mean. I just heard about it and ran in to see if I could
+help out in any way.”</p>
+<p>The girl patted his arm.</p>
+<p>“You’re a dear, Arthur,” she said, “but Mr. Cates is handling the
+affair.”</p>
+<p>Introduced, Cates took a quick inventory of Hughes and found that he
+rather liked him. But perhaps that was because Hughes appeared to good
+advantage when contrasted with Terhune.</p>
+<p>“Don’t misunderstand my questions,” Cates said to Hughes, “but I
+understand you were up here this afternoon after Miss Meusel left the
+apartment.”</p>
+<p>Hughes grinned boyishly and drew a cigarette case from his pocket.</p>
+<p>“I knew I’d come under suspicion,” he remarked. “Yes, I was up here. I
+came because I had heard from some friends of mine in Philadelphia in
+regard to a concert booking for Miss Meusel, and I knew she’d be
+interested.”</p>
+<p>“How long were you here after she left the apartment?”</p>
+<p>“Oh, a matter of ten or fifteen minutes,” said Hughes indifferently.
+“Just long enough to pick up some things I kicked over.”</p>
+<p>“Did you meet any one going out?”</p>
+<p>“Not in the building. There were people passing outside.”</p>
+<p>Cates nodded. “I see,” he said. “Well, I guess that’s all for now, Miss
+Meusel. I’ll give you a report as soon as possible.”</p>
+<p>At the door Cates paused. “By the way, Mr. Terhune,” he asked, “are you
+having Leo Archer play at the Charity Ball?”</p>
+<p>Terhune wriggled like a puppy eager to please.</p>
+<p>“Why, yes,” he answered. “Don’t you approve?”</p>
+<p>“You bet your life I do,” answered Officer Cates with conviction.</p>
+<h2>CHAPTER III.<br>PIPE DOWN!</h2>
+<p>Captain Henessey looked up as Cates came into headquarters. Then he
+threw down his pen, grinned, and leaned back in his chair. The
+stalwart, grizzled veteran liked Cates and secretly admitted that the
+boy had possibilities aside from oratory.</p>
+<p>“How’d you make out?” he demanded.</p>
+<p>Officer Cates of the wave-length squad dropped down in a handy chair
+and lit a cigarette. Then he drew a deep breath and set himself for
+speech.</p>
+<p>“Not so bad, captain,” he said. “To begin with, there are plenty of
+probabilities in connection with this case as I see it; so many, in
+fact, that it’s going to be a tough job to reconcile all of them to the
+distinct end of any definite lead. Now, when it comes to robberies in
+general——”</p>
+<p>Captain Henessey interrupted with a bang of his big fist on the desk.</p>
+<p>“Must you always begin everything with a public speech?” he roared. “I
+haven’t got time to listen to the history of the world! What I want are
+the facts on this Meusel case. Have you got them or must I crown you
+with the record book?”</p>
+<p>Officer Cates grinned, not in the least abashed. He knew the captain
+quite as well as the captain knew him.</p>
+<p>“I have ’em and here they are,” he said.</p>
+<p>At the conclusion of the story Captain Henessey frowned.</p>
+<p>“Let’s see now,” he summed up, “Archer was fifteen minutes late in
+meeting her. Hughes remained behind in the apartment, and Terhune
+evidently had a key that she wouldn’t tell you about. Added to that,
+the maid, the janitor, and other unknowns must be considered.”</p>
+<p>“I know,” agreed Cates. He eyed his superior with some speculation.
+Might as well broach what he had in mind now.</p>
+<p>“Any objections if I go on this case unofficially?” he asked, hoping he
+sounded casual.</p>
+<p>Captain Henessey glared at him. “What are you talking about!” he
+demanded.</p>
+<p>“Just what I say,” answered Cates sturdily. “I’ve got ideas and plenty
+of spare time and I’d like to put ’em both to work. Somebody’s got to
+solve the thing and it might as well be me.”</p>
+<p>“Well, speaking of nerve——”</p>
+<p>“Sure,” retorted Cates. “A guy’s got to have it these days. Just look
+back along the ages and consider the men who have put themselves
+forward. Look where they got! See what they did! Consider Julius
+Caesar, for example. Why, he——”</p>
+<p>“All right,” said the captain hastily. “This is no debate.”</p>
+<p>Thoughtfully he toyed with a pencil on his desk. Recalling the Margolo
+gang affair, the captain realized that his small radio cop had police
+stuff in him. The point was to bring him along gradually; not let him
+get discouraged too many times.</p>
+<p>“Suppose you tell me some of your ideas on this case, lad,” he
+suggested.</p>
+<p>Cates’ reply was instant. “Sure thing. I think that whoever took that
+jewelry had a key to the apartment; I think that both robberies were
+done by the same person or persons.</p>
+<p>“To-morrow, if you don’t object, I’m going to talk to Mrs. Van Goss and
+try to make the two robberies dovetail.</p>
+<p>“Also, I’m going to put a lot of time on that key Terhune had. And
+finally, I won’t interfere in the least with the work the other men are
+doing. Only—only——”</p>
+<p>“Only what?”</p>
+<p>“If I run down these jewels, I’d like to claim the reward myself. You
+see, captain——” He hesitated and blushed like a schoolboy.</p>
+<p>“Yes, I see a lot that you don’t think I see, lad,” observed the
+captain gravely, though with a twinkle in his shrewd eyes. “She’s a
+fine little girl, and I wish you luck. Run along to her now and
+consider yourself on the case.”</p>
+<hr class='tb'>
+<p>Early the next afternoon Dave Cates presented himself at the apartment
+of Mrs. Van Goss—a sparkling little widow who rumor had it, had
+received an immense fortune with the death of her husband. She met
+Cates pleasantly enough, though with a questioning lift of well-placed
+eyebrows.</p>
+<p>“I’m from headquarters, Mrs. Van Goss,” he explained. “May I ask you a
+few questions?”</p>
+<p>She sighed. “Dear me, I’ve answered hundreds of questions since my
+apartment was broken into. But go ahead and I’ll tell you what I can.”</p>
+<p>“I’ll try to be brief.”</p>
+<p>He smiled, and she smiled in return. Somehow Cates’ twisted little grin
+reflected the richness of his voice, and few people could resist the
+combination.</p>
+<p>“Now,” he continued, “was it a phone message that called you out on the
+day of the robbery?”</p>
+<p>“It was.”</p>
+<p>“Would you mind telling me who the call was from?”</p>
+<p>“Not a bit,” she answered promptly. “It was from Mr. Hughes.”</p>
+<p>“Arthur Hughes?”</p>
+<p>“Yes. He was asking me to have tea with him at the Renhurst.”</p>
+<p>Cates felt a quick excitement that his voice did not betray.</p>
+<p>“Your jewels were taken during your absence, I presume,” he said.</p>
+<p>“They were. I returned here about six as I recall it.”</p>
+<p>“I see. Do you happen to know Leo Archer, or Terhune, or Miss Meusel
+very well?”</p>
+<p>“Oh, yes, I know them all very well indeed,” said Mrs. Van Goss. “In
+fact we’re in and out of each other’s places all the time.”</p>
+<p>“Are there any other keys to this apartment besides the ones your maid
+and the janitor have?”</p>
+<p>“No.”</p>
+<p>“Do you always carry your key with you when you go out Mrs. Van Goss?”</p>
+<p>“I do now,” she confessed with a rueful little laugh. “Before the
+robbery I always left my key out in a potted plant in the corridor,
+simply because I seem to have a propensity for losing keys.”</p>
+<p>“Which is unfortunate, sometimes,” smiled Dave Cates. “I think that’s
+all, Mrs. Van Goss, and thank you very much.”</p>
+<p>She went with him to the door. “I hope you have learned something of
+value to you,” she said. “Good afternoon.”</p>
+<hr class='tb'>
+<p>Outside, Cates’ smile faded as he realized that the thing was in more
+or less of a tangle. He had become convinced that the same man
+committed both robberies—due to the likeness of the two telephone
+calls and the fact that the robberies were almost identical in points
+of time and circumstance.</p>
+<p>Going strictly by formula Hughes was the obvious suspect, since he had
+phoned Mrs. Van Goss and since he had been in Miss Meusel’s apartment
+after she had left it.</p>
+<p>But it was a bit too obvious to satisfy Cates, regardless of the fact
+that Captain Henessey’s best men were constantly watching Hughes.</p>
+<p>Much more pertinent to him was Miss Meusel’s denial of any one’s
+possession of a key other than her own.</p>
+<p>Walking slowly, Cates reasoned. If only he could locate those jewels
+the rest would be easy. The only way he might do that was to carry out
+the idea he had in mind—a dangerous but possibly effective plan. That
+plan, in brief, was to search a man’s rooms.</p>
+<p>He hesitated, then his bulldog jaw squared. After all, he was working
+toward that little white bungalow, and that was worth any risk. If he
+could get evidence this way, so much the better.</p>
+<p>Within the next hour Officer Cates had found the place he wanted, had
+made sure no one was around, and had entered by means of a skeleton
+key.</p>
+<p>He searched hurriedly but thoroughly, taking care to replace everything
+he overturned, in order that the occupant might not become suspicious.</p>
+<p>Finished, Cates scratched his sandy head and swore.</p>
+<p>“The son of a gun!” he muttered. “I was sure there’d be something up
+here. This knocks everything into a cocked hat.”</p>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV.<br>ZOWIE!</h2>
+<p>Dejectedly Cates returned to headquarters to make his report to Captain
+Henessey. The captain laughed. “Don’t take it so much to heart, lad,”
+he encouraged. “Sometimes it requires weeks, months, years to untangle
+one of these things.”</p>
+<p>“I suppose so,” nodded Cates despondently. “Say, captain, what makes a
+crook, anyway?”</p>
+<p>Captain Henessey eyed his little radio officer uncertainly.</p>
+<p>“So help me, you can ask some of the damnedest questions I ever heard
+of!” he ejaculated.</p>
+<p>Then, seeing that Cates was in earnest, he went on more kindly: “If you
+must know, Dave, there’s probably a million different things, as you’ll
+find out when you’ve been in this business as long as I have.
+Environment, moods, impulses, hatred, hunger, needs excitement,
+mental—why, what’s the trouble? Got an idea?”</p>
+<p>For Dave Cates had suddenly sat bolt upright his blue eyes eager.</p>
+<p>“I’ll say I have! How good it is I don’t know, but I’m going to sock it
+for all it’s worth. Listen.”</p>
+<p>Captain Henessey didn’t scoff at the plan. He was much too experienced
+in police work for that.</p>
+<p>“Not bad at all, lad,” he acknowledged. “It may not work, but then
+again it may. Anyway, I’ll see that a microphone is installed where you
+want it.”</p>
+<p>Cates looked at his watch.</p>
+<p>“Time for the broadcast, captain,” he said. “Give me the stuff you’ve
+got ready. Afterward, I think I’ll take a run out to the Salon
+Quintesse and listen to Leo Archer. I’m getting to know quite a lot
+about music.”</p>
+<p>Syndicate Park, where the Salon Quintesse was located, was a-glitter
+when Cates arrived. It was a warm evening and couples were sauntering
+through the grove during the intermission between dances.</p>
+<p>A big car came roaring up the drive to give forth its cargo of
+laughing, voluble, noisy youngsters. Down by the river some one was
+playing a ukulele and the mellow chords blended oddly with the booming
+music of Leo Archer’s band.</p>
+<p>Cates went quietly into the big hall and sat down at a corner table. He
+was an unobtrusive little figure and nobody paid the least bit of
+attention to him.</p>
+<p>The room was filled with amusement seekers, most of them in evening
+dress. There were laughing faces, flushed faces, sad, serious, and
+vindictive faces but Cates gave them little thought.</p>
+<p>He was watching the tall lean figure of Leo Archer as the band leader
+put his men through their paces.</p>
+<p>It was a wonderful band, Cates thought. Hot music, probably none hotter
+in the country. Funny that Archer could get such effects when he was
+such a bored, cynical guy. Almost beyond understanding, but not quite.</p>
+<p>Dave Cates became a bit wistful. He wished he had such talent as
+Archer’s. It must be great to be up there leading a band like that.
+Even music that boomed and crashed seemed connected with that vague
+green-shuttered bungalow with the garden plot out back.</p>
+<p>Then a slim, graceful little figure slipped out on the floor and began
+to dance. Cates sat forward, his eyes sparkling with pride. If anybody
+could beat Anabelle Talbot’s dancing, he’d like to know it!</p>
+<p>It was one of the world’s prize mysteries, why she accepted his
+attentions, but since she did he’d not question his blessings. She was
+a dream girl suddenly come to life—his dream girl.</p>
+<p>Whirling, pivoting, gliding, she moved about the floor, smiling
+steadily as one who dances must smile. Then she saw the little radio
+cop sitting alone in the corner, and her smile became radiant.</p>
+<p>Lightly she blew him a kiss, finished her dance to a mad burst of
+syncopation, and skipped into her dressing room.</p>
+<p>“Gee!” exclaimed Dave Cates softly. “Gee!”</p>
+<p>In a few minutes she came out of the dressing room and hurried over to
+Cates’ table. Grinning broadly, he rose to greet her.</p>
+<p>“You sure can dance, Ann!” he told her. “Boy, how you can dance!”</p>
+<p>Hazel eyes sparkled up at him and a red little mouth crinkled at the
+corners.</p>
+<p>“I’m glad you think so, Dave,” she said. “Just the same I wish I didn’t
+have to do it. Oh, did I tell you that Leo Archer wants me to sign a
+contract to dance exclusively to his music?”</p>
+<p>Cates shook his head. “No, you didn’t,” he said slowly. “Are you going
+to sign?”</p>
+<p>“I don’t want to, Dave. But you know a girl must do something.” She
+stopped and studied his face. “Anyway,” she finished, “he gave me until
+the Charity Ball to decide.”</p>
+<p>“Which is just a couple of days anyway,” mused Cates. “Say, Ann, when
+did he offer you this contract?”</p>
+<p>“Yesterday,” she answered. “He called me up to his office at the
+Renhurst.”</p>
+<p>“At what time?”</p>
+<p>She looked wonderingly across the table. “Why all curiosity about it,
+Dave?”</p>
+<p>“I’ll explain some time, Ann. What time was it?”</p>
+<p>“Why, shortly after four o’clock, I think.”</p>
+<p>“How long were you there?”</p>
+<p>“Only a few minutes. He was working feverishly on a new number he
+expects to introduce at the Charity Ball. He offered me this contract,
+and told me I could take it or leave it. Then he gave me till the
+Charity Ball to decide.”</p>
+<p>Suppressed excitement was in Dave Cates’ voice. “Did any one come in
+while you were there?” he asked.</p>
+<p>She considered.</p>
+<p>“N-no,” she said presently. “That is, nobody but a bell boy who had a
+little package that he gave Archer.”</p>
+<p>“Wow!” Cates smacked his fist jubilantly into the palm of his hand.
+“I’ve got it now; sure as the deuce I have! What a break this is!
+Zingo!”</p>
+<p>He reached across the table and took both her hands, caring not what
+people around might think. “Gee, you’re a dear, and a sweetheart, and
+how you’d fit into that little bunga——”</p>
+<p>“Dave, behave! What in the world ails you!”</p>
+<p>“Nothing, honey. I can’t tell you yet, but the first thing I’m going to
+plant is tomatoes. Zowie!”</p>
+<hr class='tb'>
+<p>Greatly as the city was interested in the Van Goss-Meusel jewel
+robberies, the interest in the Charity Ball overshadowed all else. It
+was an annual affair and tradition and skillful publicity had built it
+up to a point where attendance was a matter of civic pride. A hundred
+social leaders served as patronesses; the best show talent in town was
+secured for the acts; and the general populace prepared for a gala
+night.</p>
+<p>As chairman of the general committee, Terhune bustled around attending
+to this and that, a smile of smug importance on his florid face. Had he
+not been so preoccupied he might have noticed that he was trailed by a
+small, stocky figure, homely and determined of face.</p>
+<p>At this last hour Dave Cates was overlooking no bets. Not only did he
+watch Terhune, but he kept an eye on Miss Meusel and Leo Archer. To
+Hughes he paid no attention.</p>
+<p>“It’s got to break right,” was his constant thought. “When anything
+means as much to a guy as this does to me, it’s got to break right.”</p>
+<h2>CHAPTER V.<br>HOT MUSIC.</h2>
+<p>The Spanish room of the Greystark, the most magnificent hotel in town,
+was engaged. At eight o’clock on the night of the event the huge
+ballroom was nearly filled. Gaudy decorations had transformed the room
+into a great hacienda; brilliant streamers waved and floated and
+intertwined in a glowing mass of color.</p>
+<p>Gay parties met and chatted, and the hum of steady conversation
+provided an accompaniment for all other sounds—the tuning of the
+instruments, the ceaseless rumble of passing traffic, the occasional
+clear laugh of a woman.</p>
+<p>Up on the specially constructed platform, Leo Archer and his band were
+making ready. As always, Archer looked extremely bored and cynical. A
+sneering smile edged his lips as he looked out upon the festivities.
+Now and then he said something to the radio announcer of KYK, who faced
+a microphone just to the left of the platform.</p>
+<p>On the floor Terhune was moving about from group to group, greeting all
+and sundry with his fixed smile. Over in a corner were Hughes and the
+dazzling young widow, Mrs. Van Goss.</p>
+<p>Dave Cates could take in the whole scene from where he was sitting—up
+in an obscure little balcony with the curtains drawn just enough to
+permit of concealment. Before him, too, was a microphone, and beside
+him was a little lever by which he could switch the control instantly
+from the floor announcer to himself.</p>
+<p>“Some gang, isn’t it, Ann?” he grinned, “Hadn’t you rather be down
+there with ’em than sitting up here just looking on?”</p>
+<p>“Don’t be silly, Dave,” she said softly, smiling at him.</p>
+<p>She was rather puzzled at all this, the microphone and the partly drawn
+curtains; but she asked no questions, realizing that Cates was on
+police duty of some sort.</p>
+<p>With a crash of cymbal the band went into a modern, popular trot. The
+blue eyes of Officer Cates went to Archer. For all his boredom the man
+was a genius, and he was at his best to-night.</p>
+<p>Leading his band with the baton, his eyes gleaming to the cutting
+thrusts of the trumpets, to the sense-lulling croon of the saxophones,
+to the twang of the banjo, he was a master of jazz.</p>
+<p>Then the music softened and a hokum man stepped to the front of the
+platform, singing:</p>
+<blockquote>
+“The moon was new<br>
+And so was love.<br>
+This eager heart of mine was singing<br>
+Lover where can you be—ee——”
+</blockquote>
+<hr class='tb'>
+<p>Cates glanced at Anabelle Talbot. In that music he could feel the
+expression of a longing—of a longing that was universal and poignant.
+Well, he knew what it was. He knew from the sudden throb in his temples
+as Anabelle’s hazel eyes met his for the briefest of instants. The
+age-old, deathless search for an ideal—and the ideal was here by his
+side.</p>
+<blockquote>
+“Oh, lover come back to me.”
+</blockquote>
+<p>Then the trumpets caught up the chorus and tossed it tempestuously
+about. Booming, thrilling, haunting music! No wonder Leo Archer was
+called a genius; no wonder he could name his own salary.</p>
+<p>With a swirling rush of syncopation that died abruptly on a piercing,
+sustained note, the number ended. Thunderous applause broke out,
+applause in which Dave Cates joined.</p>
+<p>“Gee, that music gets me!” he exclaimed.</p>
+<p>Miss Talbot nodded understandingly.</p>
+<p>“It gets me, too, Dave,” she said. “But wait until you hear the number
+he’s just written. He wrote it in three days, they say. The title of it
+is ‘Hot Music.’”</p>
+<p>Officer Cates stared, then threw back his head and laughed.</p>
+<p>“Well, if that’s not a pip!” he cried. “Lady, lady, that one wins the
+world! I’ve got to hand it to him, he’s good.”</p>
+<p>“Why, what in the world——”</p>
+<p>“You’ll find out shortly, Ann,” chuckled Gates. “Yes, very shortly.”</p>
+<p>He pushed the curtain a bit to one side and scrutinized the crowd
+carefully. Ah, there she was—the woman he was looking for! She had
+just stepped in front of the band platform where Archer could hear her,
+and she was saying something to her companion. Then the two of them
+moved near Terhune and spoke again.</p>
+<p>Dave Cates grew tense. Watching like a hawk he saw that Archer was
+stirring restlessly about, that Terhune seemed uneasy. In a moment
+Terhune left the hall.</p>
+<p>Archer faced his band and held out his baton. The instruments came to
+attention. Down came the baton and seemed to strike forth a coherent
+cataclysm of sound from brass and strings. Flaring, the music rose to
+the heavens. Then, with the introduction well under way, Leo Archer
+laid down his baton and went hurriedly from the hall.</p>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI.<br>STRONG EXCITEMENT.</h2>
+<p>Annabelle Talbot seized Cates by the arm.</p>
+<p>“Oh, it’s his new number, Dave,” she exclaimed. “It’s ‘Hot Music’!”</p>
+<p>Dave Cates grinned widely. “Great!” he answered. “I’ll never forget
+it.”</p>
+<p>Reaching down he snapped the lever that swung the control to himself.</p>
+<p>Into the microphone he said simply: “Cates speaking. Leo Archer’s band
+is now playing ‘Hot Music.’”</p>
+<p>Then he switched the control back to the man on the floor, and the
+thousands who were listening in gave little thought to the
+interruption.</p>
+<p>But Cates’ words started things at headquarters. Captain Henessey came
+to his feet with a bound, and roared orders at three plain-clothes men,
+who rushed for the door.</p>
+<p>Five minutes, ten minutes, a half hour, and then Captain Henessey poked
+his grizzled head into the little balcony.</p>
+<p>“Got him dead to rights, Dave, and recovered every piece of jewelry,”
+he announced with poorly concealed jubilation. “You had the right dope,
+boy, and don’t forget it.” The captain smiled at Anabelle Talbot. “You
+don’t mind if we clear up a point or two, do you?” he asked.</p>
+<p>She rose uncertainly. “If you’d rather talk business by yourselves——”</p>
+<p>“You sit right where you are,” said Captain Henessey genially. “You’ll
+be prouder than ever of this boy when he finishes his story. Go ahead,
+Dave, and let’s hear how you worked it out.”</p>
+<p>It has been said that Officer Cates liked to talk. And who is there who
+can blame him for wanting to outdo himself while the lovely Anabelle
+was listening?</p>
+<p>He cleared his throat and cut loose: “It’s this way, captain. We know
+that Hughes phoned Mrs. Van Goss in that first robbery. Our friend knew
+of it—maybe accidentally, maybe not—and hit upon the scheme of
+robbing her apartment.</p>
+<p>“It seems that Archer can play and write better music after strong
+excitement of some sort. Anyway, he knew the lay of the land, the time
+the widow was going out, and where she left the key. The rest was easy.</p>
+<p>“Since Archer got such a kick out of that robbery, he decided to do
+another and plan it all himself. He knew that Terhune was in the habit
+of taking a nap, and he bribed a bell hop to get Terhune’s key book for
+him. Anabelle, here, was in his office when the bell hop passed in the
+keys.</p>
+<p>“Then Archer made the date with Miss Meusel to meet him, saying he had
+a business conference on and couldn’t call for her.</p>
+<p>“Luckily, Hughes was out of the apartment by the time Archer got there.
+He got the jewels and started out, but saw that rare old violin of Miss
+Meusel’s and couldn’t resist trying it out, being the musician that he
+is.</p>
+<p>“In doing so Archer spilled just enough of the resin for me to see. I
+began to think something was phony when Miss Meusel told me she hadn’t
+touched the violin for two days.</p>
+<p>“Still I kept on eye on the others, too. The main thing was that I
+couldn’t figure out what he’d done with the jewelry. I didn’t think
+he’d hock it or sell it, but when I took a chance and searched his
+rooms nothing was there. Then I got a rush of brains to the head. If he
+swiped the jewels to get inspiration to write better music, he’d
+naturally keep ’em handy, where he could look at ’em. Funny, but some
+guys are that way.</p>
+<p>“I knew that there was an iron safe in his office and that I couldn’t
+get into it. So, knowing that the jewelry would be on his mind, I got a
+plant to go down on the floor tonight and mention casually that she’d
+heard the police had found the jewelry of the Van Goss-Meusel
+robberies.</p>
+<p>“Sure enough, Archer hustled over to his office to check up on it. I
+guess that’s all.”</p>
+<p>“But how about Terhune having a key to the apartment and why should
+Miss Meusel want it kept quiet?” demanded the captain.</p>
+<p>Cates grinned. “They were married,” he answered. “I checked up on it at
+the City Hall. Because of concert bookings and other things they
+decided to keep it secret for a while.”</p>
+<p>“Then how did Archer know that Terhune had the key?”</p>
+<p>“Because he stood up with Terhune at the marriage, and they made him
+promise to keep quiet about it.”</p>
+<p>Anabelle Talbot’s lovely eyes had been widening during the recital.</p>
+<p>“Do you mean that Leo Archer was the robber?” she said breathlessly.</p>
+<p>“He was, Miss Talbot, and he had the earmarks of a good one, too,”
+nodded the captain. “As the lad here has said, Archer wanted excitement
+and felt he could put out better music under its spell.”</p>
+<p>“I never liked him,” said the girl slowly, “but I didn’t think he’d do
+anything like this.”</p>
+<p>“You never can tell,” observed Captain Henessey. He rose. “Well, Dave,
+you’ll get a good sum out of this. That ought to be enough to——”</p>
+<p>He stopped, gazing from the red-faced little radio cop to the wondering
+girl, and grinning broadly.</p>
+<p>“Oh, well, I guess you two can settle that yourselves.” With a nod he
+was gone.</p>
+<p>Anabelle Talbot looked inquiringly at Cates.</p>
+<p>“What was he talking about?” she asked.</p>
+<p>“Gee, I don’t know, honey,” stammered Officer Cates of the radio squad.
+“Maybe he meant that you wouldn’t have to sign any contract to dance.
+You see, I’m going out to-morrow to take a look at a little bungalow
+and if you—an’—if you know what I mean by——”</p>
+<p>Miss Talbot’s cheeks became the color of a red, red rose, and her hazel
+eyes softened wonderfully.</p>
+<p>“I think I understand, Dave,” she murmured. “I’d like to see the
+bungalow.”</p>
+<p>“Gee!” marveled Dave Cates some moments later. “Gee! I can’t even carry
+a tune and just think what made this possible!”</p>
+<p>“What, dear?”</p>
+<p>“Hot Music!” finished Officer Cates in tones of awe.</p>
+<div class="tn">Transcriber’s note: This story appeared in the
+First September Number of <i>Top-Notch</i> magazine.</div>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77893 ***</div>
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