“SCOTTY THE LAMB”
JOHN MOLLOY
Along in the evening Mrs. Isabella Goodwin, a police matron, was installed there. The Commissioner brought her, and carried her bundle. The landlady and the matron had never seen each other in their lives, but kissed ostentatiously, and made considerable fuss on the chance of being overheard. Mrs. Goodwin was “planted” as the landlady’s “sister,” who had come from Montreal to live with her and help in the housework until she could find a position in New York. The Commissioner grumbled a little about her stinginess in refusing to pay an expressman to bring her bundle, and then took his departure, explaining that the train had been late, and the baby was not well, and his wife, Aggie, would be worried about him, and so forth. Mrs. Goodwin established herself in a room at the rear of the basement, handy to that occupied by Myrtle Horn, and kept her eyes and ears open as she went about the housework, slipping out to report when she had any information, and receiving instructions.
Outside surveillance on this house was conducted from an empty store across the street. Arrangements for the use of such property are usually made by the police without difficulty, though occasionally a close-fisted owner expects rent. Blinds were put up over the windows, peep-holes made, and a few hammers provided, with some nails and boards. Then six of the best “shadow men” in the Detective Bureau were stationed there. They made a little noise occasionally, in “getting the store ready for a big firm moving up from downtown,” and watched the house day and night. Whenever Myrtle went out she was followed. If she had visitors, they were investigated. This store was known by the code term of “Plant 21,” so that reports could be sent without disclosing police information.
Montani Goes Free
On Monday, too, Montani was arraigned in court, and discharged for what appeared to be lack of any evidence against him.
At this point the Commissioner took the liberty of fooling the newspaper men for the good of his case.