Free The Mystery Megapack by Marcia Talley Page B

where the actor purchased a pack of cigarettes.
    “The ath thmoketh cheap cigaretteth in an ecthpenthive holder,” Tham observed. “If he ith broke, it will be bad luck. But I gueth he ith not.”
    It was a matinee day, and, after a time, Merton turned and walked northward, and when he was far enough he crossed to the Avenue and caught a bus. Tham got on the same one, and they rode to the theatrical district, where Merton went in at the stage entrance of the theater where he worked.
    Tham loafed around Times Square until time for the afternoon performance to be at an end, and then watched the stage entrance carefully. He saw Merton emerge, in company with another actor. They went to an inexpensive café and ordered a meal. Then Tham realized that he had been wasting time. Since this was a matinee day, it was more than likely that Merton would not return downtown until after the evening performance.
    However, Tham shadowed his man until he returned to the theater to make up, and then he went to a picture show, careful to get back to the stage entrance by the time Merton was leaving for the night. This time, Merton made straight for the subway entrance nearest the theater, and Tham, exulting, followed.
    When Booth Mansfield Merton entered the car, Thubway Tham was less than six feet behind him. The car was not crowded, and Merton sat down. He engaged in conversation with an acquaintance, and Tham could not make an attempt to get his purse. But when Merton left the subway, Tham followed carefully, and he located the actor’s lodgings.
    Tham hurried to his own room and turned in. He was up two hours earlier than usual the following morning, bolted his breakfast at the little restaurant, and then went to the place where Merton lived. For several hours Thubway Tham remained in the vicinity, moving now and then to keep from attracting attention, waiting for Merton to leave his room.
    “The ath mutht thleep all day,” Tham confided to himself. “He ith a lathy thcoundrel!”
    Then Merton came out. Once more he walked slowly up the street, swinging his stick as if to clear a path through the rabble, looking over the heads of the men and women he met. Tham followed him, watched him eat a frugal breakfast, and followed him on up the street. Booth Mansfield Merton took a bus northward again, at which Thubway Tham gnashed his teeth.
    “Nobody with clath utheth a buth,” Tham declared, “when there ith the thubway handy.”
    Uptown, Merton strolled through the streets of the theatrical district, greeting other thespians and talking shop, and Thubway Tham continued to trail him. And again he met Detective Craddock.
    “Well, Tham, what are you doing up here?” Craddock demanded.
    “I might athk you the thame quethtion,” Tham replied. “Ith thith your beat now?”
    “I just happen to be here momentarily, Tham.”
    “Tho do I.”
    “Changing your tactics, are you ? Deserting the subway and going after the street crowds now?”
    “Thay! Are you accuthin’ me of anything?” Tham demanded. “Don’t you thuppothe a man wanth to thee another part of town onthe in a while?”
    “Take care of your fingers, old boy, or they’ll be getting you into trouble,” Craddock told him. “I’m liable to be in your vicinity any time, remember.”
    “Ith that tho? You needn’t trouble to be in my vithinity ath far ath I am contherned,” said Tham. “There are timeth when I like freth air.”
    “That’s almost insulting, Tham.”
    “It would be a pity if I inthulted you,” Tham said. “But I won’t. It can’t be done!”
    Craddock walked on, for he was watching a suspect, and Tham saw that Booth Mansfield Merton was in conversation with another man near the corner. Then they separated, and Merton went on down the street. Tham followed.
    The actor entered a corner cigar store, and Tham watched through the door and saw a thing that startled him. Mr. Merton purchased a package of cigarettes, and when he came to pay for them he