Max Brand

Harrigan Max Brand

"That fellow with the red hair," said the police captain as he pointed."I'll watch him," the sergeant answered. The captain had raided two opium dens the day before, and the pride ofaccomplishment puffed his chest. He would have given advice to the sheriff of Oahuthat evening. He went on: "I can pick some men out of the crowd by the way they walk, andothers by their eyes. That fellow has it written all over him."The red-headed man came nearer through the crowd. Because of the warmth, hehad stuffed his soft hat into a back pocket, and now the light from a window shonesteadily on his hair and made a fire of it, a danger signal. He encountered thesearching glances of the two officers and answered with cold, measuring eyes, likethe gaze of a prize fighter who waits for a blow. The sergeant turned to his superiorwith a grunt."You're right," he nodded."Trail him," said the captain, "and take a man with you. If that fellow gets intotrouble, you may need help."He stepped into his automobile and the sergeant beckoned to a nearby policeman."Akana," he said, "we have a man-sized job tonight. Are you feeling fit?"