Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-16

miles. away. Now, some one might not rare
to have YOU dig up what you are hunting for.
Logical. deduction. they call that" =
1T never entered into Bancroft's head not
to trust the man, Smell had recommended
him as a man who had served with the De.
partnaent of Justice during the war: II there
was any speculative thought at all regarding
the detective it was based upon envy. From
New York to La Paz was q tremendous ada
venture; and he would have liked the Job for
himself. s'~~&
ii You find Kennedy's name, cable Yes; If
it appears nowhere, cable No. l don't want
any letters or cables that will explain any.
thing. Remember that -
Yes, sir; good idea. Now. I'll be honest
with you, Mr.. Collingswood. The thing could
be solved right here in town."
Attended by a dozen risks of having your
business known. The least rumor, and / may
find myself blocked. am in a blind alley,
the same as you are. I want an indisputable.
unbeatable fact; and l stand ready to spend
several thousand dollars to acquire this fact
For a Young man, sir, you seem to know
your mind" said the detective, admiringiy.
Perhaps 1 was educated to know it.. No
doubt you are lnystified as to what l really
want"
mo doubt whatever. But my business
begins and ends with carrying out your in.
structions." +
Precisely"
That Bancroft was the young mans name,
rather thanlthat on his ticket Of Judgment.
vas sufficient to excite considerable interest
IN the detectives 4 mind. He had already
built up a case. Either Kennedy had sold
out to Stewart. and vanished, for reasons
best known to himself, or he had been done
away with. -
Bancroft pondered considerably. Was he
shooting at the moon? The emerald com
pany was an honorable concern. Bellman.
on the face Of his affairs. was an idle young
man with money and q taste for travel; but
whether he had gone through the remark.
able exploits attributed to hinr in the pros.
pectus was something to be proved. Over
against these apparenc!es stood the prepos-
ferrous Great Adventure Company, the 1nys-
FERROUS visitor to his father. his father him!
self, and that emphasized line. Paid Ken.
nedy IN full all in a bewildering penuInbrn.
The failure to disclose the identity Of G. J. Il.
through the publishing business was a blow
of force. That door was now closed forever.
Daniel Stewart-sjnce that was his official
name-would know that G. J.. Bancroft was
no fool, Unused to the world he might be-.
In fact, but not in theory, and day by day
theory was resolving Mto fact. Stewart had
known that lie was no fool long before that
sirgnia visit in the storm. Why. even an
,uneducated boy would have SHE'D at such
rign1arole as a plotted adventure for sale.
"OOlu HdNe IHUCh6u lle nOIlOll.
and education had. Stewart had not pur.
sued him; he had adroitly let him be. Why?
To sharpen the edge of curiosity. which was
exactly what had happened.
At two o'clock Bancroft called by toe.
phone to ascertain If Mr.. Be!lman was in his
room. Mr.. Bellman was. Very good. Would
Mr.. Bellman give q little of his time-suy
half an hour--to Mr.. Jeremiah Coilingswood?
Mr.. Belln,an would give MIR. Eollingswood
exactly half an hour if Mr.. Collingswood
would state his business.
Real estate"
Beg pardon?"
Real estate
Bellman frowned into the transrnitter.
Real estate? He did not quite get that.
What kind Of a game was this heaven born
hick purposing? Bellman thought rapidly,
and suddenly smiled. The boy wanted a look.
see, first. A little suspicious, ell? II George
Bellmap acquitted himself favorably Bancroft
would admit of the masquerade and OPEN
up on the Great Adventure Company. No
installing it; the Professor was a magician.
He had said Bancroft would come, and here
he was.
Come up" he said into the t%rainsmitter.
Now, Bellman had the gift. He could
make friends anywhere; he possessed per-
sonality, misdirected, no doubt, but nonethe.
less vital. He had the air and the manner
of a gentleman born. He smiled affably as
he opened the door for his victim. He took
the proffered card-J Col%lingsWood. real es-
ate-and smiled inwardly as the ink blurred
under his thumb; hadn't been>off the press
more than a couple Of hours.
Take a chair. What gave you the idea
that I might want to rent or buy?"e.
: Accidentally heard your name mentioned
and that you were shortly to be married"
Bellnnan nodded, not at this statement but
at the recollection Of The Shadows earnest
entreaties not to underestimate this young
Bancroft. The boy wore his clothes well.
moved his body easily, and appeared to know
exactly what to do with his hands and feet.
These points did not dovetail nicely with the
boys history. Pedigreed. Bellman had been
forced by necessity to develop one talent be-
You'd all others, and that was to distinguish
the natural gentleman from the artificial.
Here was a diamond, and not even in the
rough.
things get around Well. what have you got
in the way Of houses? I had an apartment
in mind; but. after all, a house Is a house."
What ! have is all below Twenty-third
street." -
mo: that would never do. Too far south
for me-, Besides, l don't know. After the
Z wedding l may take itsinto, my head to travel
again. You can sublet an apartment, but it's
llardEwork to sublet a house, rs
To this Bancroft agreed with a nod, know
ing absolutely nothing about the matter.
1t was in sBellman's mind to lay a trap; but
he recognized In time the boomerang char
acteristics OF any trap that would discover
Bancroftis ignorance regarding real estate.
There was, behind the scenes,
seven millions or .thereabouts. For the Pro
lessor was going to rock this boy, pick him
dry That was as evidential as the boy him
self. But the Professor was going to do the
rocking alone; he wasn't going to whack up
with any one. ALI this treasure, and Friend
George not to have his cut!
But would the boy sign that damfool adven-
ture contract. II the boy put his John Han
cock to that, why, the Professor was the
greatest magician Of. his time. But, even then
how would he get his hands into Bancroft's
money bags?
" note yoh have travelled q good deal"
Bancroft observed, With q gesture toward the
trunks and grips and kit bags. covered with
ship and hotel labels. Woodlands Branch