human
He started around from the rear and then the next thing he caught was the outline of a shadowy slinking figure as a man dropped out of the library. He called. The intruder broke into a run, darting across the open space of lawn and crashing through the shrubbery without any further effort at concealment. My man called again and began to chase the stranger, finally firing and missing. In the shrubbery a sharp branch whipped him under the chin just as he obtained a clear view of the outlined figure of his quarry and as he raised his weapon to shoot again. The revolver was knocked from his hand and he was thrown back, falling to the ground and momentarily stunned. Whoever broke into the library got away, of course.
gpt
What did the intruder look like?
human
But was he tall or short or slender or stout--the deputy must have got some vague idea of him at least.
gpt
It was one of my amateur deputies, Mackay admitted, reluctantly.
human
He thought the man was hatless, but couldn't even be sure of that.
gpt
Were there footprints, or fingerprints--
human
No, Mr. Kennedy, we're out of luck again. When he jumped out he fell to his hands and knees in a garden bed. The foot marks were ruined because his feet slid and simply made two irregular gashes. The marks of his hands indicated to me, anyhow, that he wore heavy gloves, rubber probably.
gpt
Any disturbance in the library?
human
Not that I could notice. That's why I phoned you at once. I'm hoping you'll discover something.
gpt
Well-- Kennedy sighed.
human
It was a wonderful opportunity to get to the bottom of this.
gpt
I haven't told you all yet, Mr. Kennedy, Mackay went on.
human
There was a second man, and--
gpt
A second man? Kennedy straightened, distinctly surprised.
human
I would swear this whole thing was a one-man job.