The San Francisco call., 1908-10-04

Then why not tell Mrs Pinckney
herseIf?"
And possibly get IS bill or cold
thanks?'
A puzzled look came into Rankins
face But what has the Advertiser
TO do with it? Why come TO us?
Couldn't you find a confederate to
divide stakes or accept a small COM
mission?'
The little man screwed up his eyes
until they were lost in the sockets.
You are playing with me. Mr.. Rankin.
You know perfectly well what l mean.
A man like you isn't likely to miss the
point of this little scheme. I'd cut
a fine figure going to Mrs. Pinckney "a
hours after the robbery, now wouldn't / =?
Detectives would be mighty generous
TO me. wouldn't they? l could trust
an ordinary confederate, couldn't I? So
I said to myself. the Advertiser is keen
for detective work. I remember when
you or one Of your reporters in that
diamond brooch mystery
Rankin bowed. II thank you for
myself"
The paper at the time made a great
blow over its enterprise and skill. So
] said TO myself, here is where / put
the Advertiser on this robbery. Their
reporter works up the case without
mentioning me, the pocketbook is given
back, and / get the 500 on the quiet.
And then"-the little man coughed.
Something tells me that you haven't
finished this interesting plot" said
Rankin. And then?"
The little man grinned at him cum
ningly. Well, of course, you see it
viii be exclusive story. and a great
newspaper like the Advertiser is al
ways willing to pay good prices for
good stories"
All exclaimed Rankin, how
stupid I am today. But I'm beginning
to get a glimmer OF light Let's look
at this minute. DO you mean that we
shall give you the reward and also pay
you for the story? is that the idea?"
1T isn't more than fair, don't you
think?" said the little man.
Rankin played with his glasses
"Filkins,' he said finally, Il have
conceived a great admiration for you.
You have the making of an extraordi-
nary financier. It's a shame that a
man of your talents should be wasting
his time doing ordinary butler work
and waiting for women to drop around
to steal pocketbooks. But I'm not go
ing to abuse your confidence, and I
think you will find that the Advertiser
will give you all you deserve. So tell
me the story and well get to work on
the plot"
i knew l could trust you when you
saw the point" cried the little man,
triumphantly. well. you see it was
this way Mrs. Pinckney had been
downtown yesterday afternoon. and 1
let her in when she came back She
had reached the staircase when some-
thing attracted her attention to the
drawing room. She turned and put her
pocketbook on the umbrella stand.
When she went upstairs she forgot the
pocketbook. A sewing woman-Mrs.
Ross is her name-came through the
hail. saw the pocketbook, picked ii up
and hid il in her dress. She was going
out of the door when / called to her to
go back and out at the servants en-
trance. She looked mighty scared when
] spoke to her. but l pretended to no
tice nothing and she hurried out the
back way. I'm a pretty quick thinker,
Mr.. Rankin. and / saw at once that
here was "A good thing for me, and in
an honest way, too"
"Unquestionably honest" replied
Rankin. when did Mrs. Pinckney dis
cover her loss?"
Almost right away. All the servants
were summoned and examined and de-
tectiges were called in. You know what
detectives are" the little man added
with great scorn. Il kept quiet You
see, was waiting for the reward to be
offered"
Another proof of your financial sa-
gacity But tell me. Filkins, where does
this hardened criminal live and how am