But his plot was doomed to dismal failure.
Old King Brady flung back the lapel of his vest, and exclaimed:
"Do you know I'm Old King Brady, the Secret Service detective?"
"What!" gasped the policeman, glaring at his badge.
"If you don't believe it, you can come to the station when I pull in my prisoner. That fellow is a Custom House inspector all right, but he's sailing under false colors. We were both after the same man, as I am working for the Custom House. I caught the man, and now he wants to take the glory of the capture. See through his game?"
The policeman did.
He released the detective.
Then he made a rush at the spiteful inspector, and poking and jabbing him with his club, he put Gibson out of the hotel.
The inspector finding himself baffled, departed in a fury for the whole crowd was laughing and jeering at him, and one of the spectators threatened to report his meanness to the Collector.
Old King Brady now seized La Croix.