Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-01-17
ssssssss
"A Girl E GRIT
BY NlNJOR ARTHUR GRlf=f=lTtts

Copyright, 1909, by II. F. Fenno s.

llOR OIll ills. +
X. f. Fenno s. Co. /
I. ss.s:..: + j. + $
in gold letters and the man himself
quickly followed. He was dressed in
the same irreproachablc fashion as
4 when | had seen him In the morning
good new clothes. we'll cut glossy
hat. a gardenia and the shiniest of
shoes with big bows
We'll. now?" L asked as I offered
| him q chair
Its this way" he replied. "hfy
| people have calculated that you might
like to secure their services"
"CEe moment. pray. Who and what
are your people?"
'saraband 6. Sons. You have surely
heard OF them-the great firm of pri-
Nate detectives. was with Allan Pink
erton myself for years. and he reck-
oned WAS one of his s.aartest pupils"
What on earth should I do with
private detective?" l cried, with q
great lauga.
Il may venture to remind you that
you have just succeeded to vast for
tune. TIL. hership OF the Mcknight
property must be worth several mil
Ions to you, ana--and-so Sarabands
desired me to call
is 1t part Of rich man't duty or
business to keep private dctective?"
was still laughing, but l found no
response on the portentously solemn
face of my visitor.
That's as may be, Captain Wood.
Some do and some don't. Those Who
didn't have come to wish they had;
SO might you.
And what would happen IL were
so foolish as to refuse the obliging5
,p or ~
ingiy.
Il beg of You to be serious, Mr..
| Wood. Take us or leave us, but en-
pioy some one. Do not, for heavens
sake, attempt to run alone.
He spoke With such evident earnest
ness and good faith that 1 began to feel
a little uncomfortable.
DO you imply that I need protection,
that ann in amy danger-any personal
danger-that unless am taken care of
shall fall victim to somewhat
shall say-sonle plot?"
IN that and more. cannot at this
| stage be more explicit in my warn
ings. 1T would be giving away our
| business. But there are ample grounds
for what 4 say. ] indicated something
/ of the sort of thing when l spoke to
YOU this morning. There are those who
grudge You your newly acquired for
| tune, who deny your right to it or
even the testator's right to 1T. They
ere seady TO employ amy means-se-
cret. insidious even violent means-to
Wrest it from you. Let me tell you, sir,
| that even now, at this moment, you
| may be, believe you are, in imminent
peril--you and your life
But this is o matter for the police!"
i cried hctly. s,oringing to my feet.
Your polite cannot help you in this
1t is TOO private and particular, and
they are of little good till after the
event. What YOU Want is prevention,
anticipation. You must meet guile
/ with guile, plot with counterpart, all
ways supposing there is time"
Where is the hurry?'
We have reason to know that every
/ thing Was Planned sometime since
Why, the news is not a day old yet"
ut has long been expected that the
/ McFaught millions would come to
England, but the name of the real heir
was only disclosed a week go Every
thing was ready. and the campaign
Was to commence directly it was
known who should be attacked.'
looked at this heavyfeatured slow
speaking Yankee, wondering whether
lie was in earnest or only thought me a
fool. l1ner-, of course, that l had now
i become fair game for the blackmailers,
and was inclined TO imagine that Mr..
| Snuy2er's so,ieituae was only trans
parent attempt to eStort money.
And what would it cost me to Sc
4 cure the good Offices of Messrs. Sara
4 land C Sons?'' l asked, seeing en-
lighten!nent as to his probable de-
inands.
Our charges, sir, are no more than
cut of pocket expenses and small re-
staining fee, say five and twenty dollars
I a week After that a pro rata pre-
lniu1n, according to the risks
Risks? l do not understand"
THE pe,i.s, sir, from which you are
saved, whether by premonition, guard
4 ianship or actual rescue. We have q
4 graduated scale. l shall be happy to
leave the 'skedool' With you. Here
4 are aome of the items: Divorce pro-
ceedings, either side; sequestration,
false charges, wounding, loss of limb,
4 death
Murder IN short?" l still spoke in
a ftippant tone. What is the rate of
insurance against that?"
His face did not relax, and he am
severed grave!g:
From Gfo0oo up to any sum, ac-
cortiing to the nearness of the risk. =
Wei, L will think over your oblies-
ing offer. Possibly. If / find l cannot
take care Of myself | may come to you
For the present / Shall trust to Scot
land Yard and my own endeavors.''
You are wrong, sir, entirely wrong.
believe that said my visitor, d.rkly
las he rose TO take his leave. You are
in considerable danger, sir and it viii
increase hourly. And you have given
points against you. The chief aim of
these big 'bunco steerers' is. of course
TO pouch Your dollars, but it is known
that you are concerned with the diff
Terenees between cur two great colll-
tries. 1t is supposed that you hold
important military Information, state
secrets that might be got out of YOU
squeezed cut of you, II they put you
in a tight place. You may decline oul
offer That is Your own affair. But
sir, let re Coniure you to carry 81 sin
shooter on all occasions. Go nowhere
well. TO no strange or unusual places
-alore.''
Il trust it is not quite so bad as al
shat, M. Snuyzei Still, am grateful
and l siaail certainly remember you If
if
'.Tou survive: Yes. sir but do moi
,eave it too late. You have beer
i'!arlied down, captain, and they will
strii.e at you, somehow, soon; today
tomorrow, at any time. They contend
that the McFaught millions We're &C.
quired by spo!ia1ion and sharp rrac-
tioe."
Is there any truth in that?" broke
i'm hurriedly.
"Billy McFaught was a smart man
and struck some close things. but nc
no