“FEDERAL AGENT”
★
The scene that night in the office of the chief of the bureau of
investigation was one that would remain stamped forever in Bob’s memory.
Waldo Edgar was there. So was Bob’s uncle and on the other side of the
room were Tully Ross and Condon Adams and in the background Lieutenant
Gibbons chuckled occasionally.
It was a brief session with Waldo Edgar doing most of the talking in that
close, clipped manner of speech of his which inspired his own agents and
instilled fear in the hearts of the men he was pursuing.
“The reports you have turned over to me tonight are highly gratifying,”
he said, “and I think we can call this case completed. While most of the
honor of the final catch goes to Bob Houston, Condon Adams and Tully Ross
deserve credit for uncovering that vital clue in the fireplace of Arthur
Jacobs’ apartment.”
The federal chief shuffled through some papers on his desk.
“All of the men involved in the case have been apprehended, including
Fritz Jacobs, who appeared to be the ringleader. Their radio station has
been destroyed and they were unable to make use of the information which
they had for nearly 24 hours. You may be sure that their punishment will
be swift and sure. As for Arthur Jacobs, I am inclined to feel sorry for
him for his record in the government service up to this time had been
excellent and I will do all that I can to help him.”
Then Waldo Edgar turned to Tully Ross.
“As a result of your work on this case, I am pleased to be able to tell
you that you are now a full fledged federal agent.”
The chief of the bureau of investigation then faced Bob and he smiled
warmly as he spoke.
“To you, Bob, I extend my most sincere congratulations. You were under a
great strain, yet you used your head every minute of the time and when
the showdown came, you were in there fighting. I don’t know when anything
has pleased me more than to hand you your commission as a federal agent.
You’re young, but I predict that as Agent Nine you are going a long ways
in the federal service.”
In spite of himself, tears welled into Bob’s eyes for his heart was
overflowing with happiness.
“I’ll do my best to make good,” he promised. “When do I go on another
case?”
Waldo Edgar chuckled. “You’d better rest a day or two from this one.
There will be plenty for you later.”
He was, indeed, a wise prophet, for in less than 24 hours Bob was to get
the call that was to send him out on the famous Jewel Mystery, about
which you will learn in “Agent Nine and the Jewel Mystery.”
THE END
Transcriber’s Notes
★
--Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public
domain in the country of publication.
--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and
dialect unchanged.
End of Project Gutenberg's Agent Nine Solves His First Case, by Graham M. Dean