The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-11-13
A Three Cornered
Swindle
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1914. by Associated Lit
erury Press. ..

I'LL erury fEeSS. III
1t wasn't what u nlS8Eative old
lawyer would call a stral - case. 1
had been sent to London to look up a
sharper and make him disgorge for the
benefit of the heirs OF another sharper.
The widow of one John Saunders, an
Englishman, who had died in Buffalo
several years previously, had put her
claim in the hands Of Il New York law
yer. This Saunders had been mixed
up in a big swindle before leaving Eng
land. The name Of the living partner
was Smallwood, and it vas understood
that he had set up as a money lender.
The papers eliminated Smallwood in
a sense, but in case he was defiant we
could not push the case against him.
After some little trouble l found
Smallwood and his den. He was a
burly, big man, with a loud voice and
q d~omineering way. In assisting to
penetrate that swindle he had a mar
row escape, and he realized that in a
way he was still under the surveillance
of the police, but l put him down as a
man not to be easily frightened. I
found l was right in this. When I had
stated my errand he laughed in my
face and called me a fool. The n in
terview satisfied me that my mission
was a failure, and l babe MI. Small
wood good day with a much courtesy
as l could assume. 1t was about lunch
con time when l left his office, and l
dropped into a modest restaurant for a
light meal. had scarcely got seated
when a stranger. who had a seedy-gen-
teel look about him, asked permission
to take the opposite side of the table.
saying he had some information to
| give ME. When we had begun on our
meal he said:
II saw you leave old Smallwood's Of
fee. and l followed you. Has he done
you a bad turn"
l did not give my case away In reply
ing. but gave him to understand that
the money lender had refused to do the
square thing by me.
Hes q cur, q cheat. a swindler and
all that's mean and contemplate" con.
tinued the stranger with q good deal
Of feeling. HE has cheated and
wronged me. and l can get no salts
faction. Today. however. l learned
Of an incident in his past life that
will give me a good hold on him. l
must go to Liverpool to complete my
information. If you will so along and
become responsible for expenses I will
share the information with you."
thought it might be Il good thing to
hold over Smallwood as a blun, any
way, and I promised to reward my in
formant, whose name was Duff, II any
thing came of it. In a couple Of hours
1 returned to the money lenders Office.
He greeted me afably and said:
II have heard that you Yankees are
a persistent race. but in this case you
are simply wasting your shoe leather.
] suppose you have come to make a
new offer?:"
81 have. about that Liverpool affair.""
l replied. and | went on and stated the
nature of his crime and the name he
used to sail under.
The shot told. The man grew nerv-
GUS and pale faced. and when had
concluded he said:
How you secured your information
l do not know. but l will frankly ad-
nit that 1t is partly correct. have
little fear that the police would med
die with me Mt this late date. but l
do not care to have the affair stirred
up. l am willing to make a fair finan-
cial arrangement with Saunders wild
Ow."
That was Il matter to he talked ove
at another meeting.
When ! made my third call OH Small
wood I was cordially received. and
while waiting for supper to be served
we came to an understanding. He
was to give me $4,000 for Saunders
widow. and ! was to give him Il receipt
in full. He grew sociablc and jolly
as the affair was concluded. and my
glass was no sooner empty than he
pressed me to drink again. OF a sud
den things began to whirl. and then
came Il blank. When I recovered con
seriousness 1t was morning and I was
lying on a cot bed in IL strange room.
Where am II" asked Of a man
who was In the room.
I'm DR.. COldwelrs private lunatic
asylum" lie replied.
"Who brought me here?"
"Y0ur friends. The loss Of your
money in that Peruvian speculation
unbalanced your mind. You will be
we'll cared for here. and If you aid me
Is you should your detention will not
last over three months"
II see how 1t H." ! said as I looked
him straight in the eye. II am in
debted to Smallwood for this. He
drugged me and had me brought here
that he might have time to tx up his
sffairs." i
/ was given plenty Of reading matter.
and the doctor played chess with me.
and. taken altogether. the time did not
pass unpleasant!y. In the three weeks
! was in the house l saw only the doc I