Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-04
CHAPTER IN
The Colonel Employs a Detective


thirty y-five, below middle height, re-
eEectably dressed. and. at first glance,
the colonel, whose hobby was distin-
gushing at a look the social standing
Of humanity, was unable to place him.
Grove locked the door.
Now then" said the colonel, what
were you doing. listening at my door?
Was that his game. Mr.. Silva"
THAT was his game" said the other
brushing his hands.
"What have you got to say before l
send for the police? asked the colonel
virtuously. What have you got to
say for yourself? Sneaking about
gcntleman's fat, listening at key
holes -
The man. who had been roughly ham
died. had risen and was putting his
collar straight. If he had been taken
ahack by the sudden onslaught. he was
completely clf-posscssed now.
IF you want to send for the police
you'd better start right away he
said. you've got a telephone. haven
you? Perhaps I'll have a job for the
policeman. too. You've no right to as
sault me, my friend he said, address,
ing Pinto resentfully.
"What were you doing?" asked the
colonel.
Find out said the man sharply.
The colonel stroked his long mus
tache. and his manner underwent
change. -,
"Now look here. old man" he said
almost iovially, were I'll friends
here. and we don't want any trouble.
I dare say you've made q mistake. and
my friend has made n mistake. Have
q whisky and soda.
The man grinncd crookedly.
Not me. thank YOU he said en-
there was a young gentleman who took
Z glass of water in North Lambeth Po-
Ice Court the other day. and---'
The colonel's eyes narrowed.
"Well. sit down and he sociable. II
you re suggesting that I'm going TO
poison you, you re also suggesting that
you know something which l don't want
you to tell. or that you have dIscov-
cred one of those terrible secrets that
the newspapers are all writing about.
Now be a sensible man have a drink. y
The man hesitated.
You have a drink Of whisky out of
the same bottle. and I'll Join you"
9. '.IIelp yourself" said the colonel
good naturedly; give me any glass
you like
The man went 70 the sideboard,
poured out two portions and sent the
soda water sizzling into the long
glasses.
Here's yours and here's mine" he
Nid. Good luck -
He drank the whisky off. after he
had seen the colonel drink his. and
wiped his mouth with a gaudy hand =
kerchef.
I'm taking it for granted" said
the colonel, that we've made no mis- -
take and that you were listening at our
door.
Now we want no unpleasantness
and we'll talk about this matter as
sensible human beings, and man tc
man.
That's the way to talk" said the
other. smacking his lips.
you've been sent here to watch
me"
Il may have and may not have, .
said the other.
Pinto shifted impatiently, but the
colonel stopped him with look.
''Now let me see what you are
unused the colonel, still wearing thai
benevolent smile Of his. Your no
an ordinary tradesman. You've got 6
look Of the book canvasser about you
] have it-you're private detective"
The man smirked.
Perhaps I am said he: land,
he added. perhaps I'm not"
The colonel slapped him on III
-- shoulder.
"Of course you are" he said conf
IDENTIFY. 1--WE don't see shrewd -lookin
fellows like you every day. You're
detective"'
Not official" said the man quickly
He had all the English private de
tective's fear of posing as the genuin
article.
"I'm going TO be perfectly straigh
with you, and you've got TO be straigh
with me. That's fair, isn't IT,
Quite fair" said the man. ~
I've been misconducting myself in an
manner
Don't mention It, said the col
onel politely. my friends here wi
spologize for handling you roughly
I'm sure; won't you, Mr.. silva?'
"Sure - said the other without an