The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-06-04

of money"
Peter waved his hand.
II think I better say" began
Smallwood, who appeared discouraged.
He paused, he repeated: II think
better say, however, that I will make
q trial provided"
THAT l am able to bear any ex-
pense?"
Smallwood appeared surprised that
any human being could have as much
sense. He said: THE search will re-
quire several stenegraphers, a long
distance telephone bill Of rather alarm
ing size and possibly a price for the
book far beyond It's real value-sev-
eral times the probable amount 1t
would bring at an auction"
$50 ahead" said Peter.
MAY 1 say that the-your desire for
a copy Of this book must be extraordi-
nary?"
"Oh, yes, most extraordinary. A
week ago | would not have paid two
dollars for it. Men have gambled
away their lives on 1t. l can't tell how
much l want 1t until 1 get it. But to
get 1t I will pay what 1t costs. And If
you can locate a copy of the book-?"
Il would let you know at once"
''Time counts. l would be grateful
Smallwood blinked. Only when his
visitor was at the door did he say, with
a switched-on smile ooh, by the way,
must the volume be in perfect condi-
ton"
at can be a bundle Of debris as far
as I am concerned" answered Peter.
'But all the pages must be there"
The other mar was reaching for the
telephone instrument with his cold
storage fingers as DeWolfe left the
office.
From the publishers he went to one
Manfred Eldegard at 6 Nassau street.
Eldegard is a public accountant whose
clients are the surety and bonding
companies. The vice-president of
of these companies had said to De-
Wolfe: "You are not familiar with
auditing and accounting as I am,
Peter. If you were you would know
that accuracy, honesty, speed, RELIABLE
ity are qualities that can be hired in
carload lots. 1t Is easy to engage ex-
perts in figures. But the genius
among accountants is the man who a
read figures just as a pianist reads
music. That man is worth something
because he can translate into the terms
Of life. There's one of those fellows
that can make circles round the rest.
Here's his letter head"
as he willing to take a chance on
getting shot?" Peter had asked.
"Shot?" the other had repeated with
a gasp.
81 NAV have to send him a long way
off. I don't know what hazards there
are"
The official of the bonding company
had looked at Peter incredulously but
he had said, you'll have to ask him
his wife. l understand that there
are few witnesses for the state in
criminal trials who have weathered as
many .blackmail and blackhand threats
as NJ. e. as we call him."
"Would he be more ready to keep
his mouth shut for his client than to
open 1t to the police for i~nstance?'
"My dear sir, when you engage Eide
gard you buy a strip Of his services.
It's yours. If you don't want him to
disclose anything there Is no proc
ess server that can land him and if
there were there is no district attorney
who would get anything out of cross
examination except evasions."
Upon a confirmation of this opinion
Peter had chosen this fat man with
TWO chins, a ~pompadour Of bristles
above a broad fiat face with little eyes,
nose and mouth pricked into it as If
Dy a point of a pencil to him Peter,
following the appointment he had
made, stated his problem.
"Where are these accounts" asked
Eldegard.
Peter put them upon the glass top
the desk. The little beady eyes of
he fat man fixed a stare upon the
Russia leather covers; he extended a
arge meaty hand and caressed these
,ooks as If they were a delicacy
to him to cook and eat-a
of digestion-a mere morsel
'or a gourmand.
AS he turned the pages marked by
Peter he began to utter chu-chu, chu-
.hu between his teeth, increasing its
peed as If getting up steam as a loco
motive puffs faster and faster when it
oavas q train shed.
"What's this Credit Account X.D.T"
10 inquired under his breath.
saThat's the one that occur most
said Peter.
Eldegard drummed with his cush-
oned fngertips on the glass.
at looks that way" he announced, !,
way you said"
"But you are not sure?" I
"Only sure as a man is sure who 5
Inds watercress in his milk. To be
ure we would nave to check against $
he transactions In the local cotton ex- {
hange. Some of these are New Or I
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