The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-11-11
. XII.

Mr.. Morgan was pacing forth and
back in the office much enraged.
look here" he said. This does
not get us anywhere. My time is val
liable. l am wasting a lot of it. I'll
tell you now I've got enough informa-
ton to know this is the sort Of case
we like, a tough case. l haven't been
fooled a bit. You may not be interest
ed. Maybe no one here is interested,
but I'm interested. Do you get that,
Mr.. Doctor, Mr.. Representative. Mr..
Fiance? I'm interested. This case is
going to be gone into. There's a crime
concealed somewhere which will do
our agency good to discover. We
sha'n't do it for money. We shall
do it for publicity. The advertising
will be worth thousands of dollars to
us. Do you understand me?"
Il know you can make life very mis-
cradle for us for a couple of days.
You will have to use your own judg-
ment."
II can pack that lawn out there with
reporters and photographers from the
city. They'll see and talk to Mr.. Sid
ney. Take my word for that. They'll
see and talk to Mrs. Sidney and to
Miss Sidney. l a. bring that down
to you by midnight"
"The house has some projections"
I said. "You might suggest that to
the newspaper people for their WI
good"
"The shyster and that common thief
Ann Forth got in, didn't they?"
II don't know Ann Forth"
"No, but you know Agnes Mitchell.
Well, you know Ann Forth, man. Say,
you simpleton. you cont know what
you're up against. This story just as
it stands-copy Of sheet from manu-
script-Spaniard-running off with
Jed-theft Of manuscript-death Of
shyster-Ann Forth back in house
. hidden crime-millionaire recluse-
beautiful daughter-hauntcd house
, it's copy for every paper in the coun-
try"
. l knew it and was appalled, by the
certain prospects.
at would be a very cruel and use
less ching to do" I said, "but as l
J told you, you must use your W judy
= ment. We are not interested in this
: child's nursery story you are follow
5 ing, and I do not intend to have peo-
Pile who are not we'll disturbed by the
questioning of a detective"
l knew how to deal safely with
Morgan, but the method was u of
the question. I should indeed have
been a slmpleton If l had not known.
All I had to ask was allow much?"
We were wholly resolved against
paying blackmail, knowing that 1t was
only q gradual descent to ruin. 1t
was better to go in one direct plunge
if it were fated.
Morgan looked at me steadily for a
few moments as If giving me a chance
to listen to the voice Of reason. His
method had been perfect. He was be-
You'd a legal suspicion, and l knew
he was dangerous.
"Well, young man," he said at last
1--WE are both wasting time-at least
I am. But it's only fair to you tC
tell you that this is not the end OF
the case. It's the kind of a case W
like, something tough and difficult,
We may not make any money out OF
it, but when we are ready, we at least
shall be paid in publicity. You
needn't be afraid of the reporters anC
photographers just now. It's too gooG
a case to waste that way. There's al
ways that, no matter what we turn up
. "This case is just good enough
to spend some money on. It's jus,
$ good enough to send a couple Of mer
down to Montevideo. I'll tell you
in advance that is what we're going
It to do.
e We'll go into the life of Mr.. Sidney
e with q fine-tooth comb, and We'll dc
it we'll. We are accustomed to doing
such things we'll. And Well do this
we'll. Well get something here or ir
South America. Well follow thai
something until we know why Jed
copied two chapters of The Moon
stone and hid them in a box built in
the springs of his bed.
r. "Then we'll come back here and ask
for a little more cooperation in serv
ing the purposes of the law, and if we
don't get some help. the reporters and
IS photographers will be swarming or
the lawn. That's all, Mr.. Doctor"
knew at first glance that MOrgan's
face was malevolent. Now I saw II
g extraordinarily so.
"lll have Jed show you the door,
Il I said.
l "And tell him we do not know
whether we take Dravada to South
America or not. 1t will make hin
happy"
Jed was s%crupnlously the servant as
1t we dismissed Mr.. Morgan.
Tha. was the fashion IN which In