The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-11

of fact I smell something interesting and illegal, and you know what a cautious chap I am. I signed myself Glasspool, care of Hickey. 3S Conduit street; that's my tailor, and after sending the wire I went round and told him what to expect. He promised to send the reply along the moment it came. I shouldn't be surprised if that's iti"
 And he was gone before a double knock on the outer door was done ringing through the rooms, to return next minute with an open telegram and face full of news.
 What do you think?" said he. "Se- curitys that fellow Addenbrooke, the police court lawyer, and he wants to see me instanterl'
 ''Do you know him, then?"
 Merely by repute. 1 only hope he doesn't know me. He's the chap who got six weeks for sailing too close to the wind in the Sutton-Wilmer case; everybody wondered why he wasn't struck off the rolls. Instead of that he's got a first-rate practice on the seamy side, and every blackguard with half a case takes it straight to Bennett Addenbrooke. He's probably the one man who would have the cheek to put in an advertisement like that, and the one man who could do it without exciting suspicion. It's simply in his line. But you may be sure there's something shady at the bottom of it. The odd thing is that I have long made up my mind to go to Addenbrooke myself if accidents should happen"
 And you're going to him now?"
 This minute" said Rallies. brush ;,- bic hot. ssaud co ara voi1
 "But I came in to drag you out to lunch"
 You shall lunch with me when we've seen this fellow Come on, Bun ny, and we'll choose your name on the way. Mines Glasspool, and don't you forget it."
 MT. Bennett Addenbrooke occupied substantial offices in Wellington street, Strand, and was out when we arrived; but he had only just gone lover the way to the court" and five minutes sufficed to produce a brisk, fresh-colored, resolute-looking man, with very confident. rather festive air, and black eyes that opened wide at the sight of Rallies.
 "Mr.-Glasspool?" exclaimed the lawyer.
 My name" said Rallies, with dry effrontery.
 Mot up at Lords, however" said the other. slyly. My dear sir, I have seen you take far too many wiclSets to make any mistaken"
 For single moment Rallies looked venomous; then he shrugged and smiled. and the smile grew into a lit tie cynical chuckle.
 ''So you have bowled me out in my turn?" said he. Well, I don't think there's anything to explain. I am harder up than 1 wish to admit under my own name, that's all, and I want that thousand pounds reward
 1.-TWO thousand" said the solicitor. And the man who is not above an alias happens to be just the sort of man I want so don't let that worry you. my dear sir The matter, how ever. is of strictly private and con fidential character And he looked very hard at me.
 ssQuite so'' said Rallies. ''But there was something about risk?'
 "A certain risk is involved"
 ''Then surely three heads will be bet ter than two. I said I wanted that thousand pounds; my friend here wants the other. We are both cursed ly hard up. and we go into this thing together or not at all. Must you have his name, too? I should give him my real one, Bunny"
 MT. Addenbrooke raised his eye- brows over the card I found for him; then he drummed upon it with his finger nail and his embarrassment ex- pressed itself in puzzled smile.
 'The fact is. find myself in diff culty." he confessed at last Yours is the first reply I have received; people who can afford to send long telegrams don't rush to the advertise ments in the Daily Telegraph; but n the other hand l was not quite