AT three o’clock that afternoon, a man called at detective headquarters and inquired for Joe Cardona.
He was taken into the detective’s office. Cardona was out; but he arrived half an hour later, to find the visitor awaiting him.
He looked quizzically at the stranger, a tall, sallow-faced man, who wore a blue serge suit and brown slouch hat. Cardona had never seen the man before; but he was impressed by the fellow’s appearance.
The man’s face was firm and expressionless; it seemed molded from a solid substance.
Before the detective could inquire the stranger’s business, the man arose and drew back the left side of his coat to reveal a badge of the secret service. Cardona extended a hand in greeting.
“Blake’s my name,” said the visitor, in a quiet voice. “Terry Blake. You wouldn’t suspect it from my name, but—”
He paused and broke into a smooth-flowing conversation of Italian. Cardona, surprised, answered in the same tongue. After a few more remarks, Blake resumed his conversation in English.
He had just explained to Cardona that he was of Italian ancestry on his mother’s side of the family.
Cardona, noting his features closely, observed certain prominent characteristics of that race.
“I suppose you want to see me about the Farmington case,” remarked Cardona.