The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-08-14
CHAPTER XIV-Continued

-12-
81 thought 1t would be possible to
telegraph to every dealer in the coun-
try"
please don't interrupt" the other
said in whisper as if Peter had clat-
tered into some funeral service. II
am thinking"
When he had ceased thinking he
looked up, snapped on his smile and
stared at DeWolfe out of pale blue
eyes.
'The operation will cost great deal
of money"
Peter waved his hand.
81 think / better say" began
Smallwood. who appeared discouraged.
He paused, he repeated: II think l
better say. however, that / will make
a trial provided
"That / am able to bear any ex-
penseT'
Smallwood appeared surprised that
any human being could have as much
sense. He said: THE search will re-
quire several stenographers, long
distance telephone bill of rather alarm
ing size and possibly a price for the
book far beyond its real value-sev-
eral times the probable amount 1t
would bring at an auction"
go ahead" said Peter.
"May l 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 it. / can't tell how
much l want it until l ger 1t. But to
get ii l will pay what it costs. And If
you can locate copy of the book"
81 would let you know at once"
''Time counts. would be grateful"
Smallwood blinked Only when his
visitor was at the door did he say. with
a switched-on smile: "Oh, by the way,
must the volume be in perfect condi-
tion?"
1T can be bundle of debris as far
as I am concerned" answered Peter.
''But all the pages must be there"
The other man was reaching for the
telephone instrument with his cold
storage fingers as DeWolfe left 4he
office.
From the publishers he went to one
Manfred Eldegard at Nassau street.
Eldegard is a public accountant whose
clients are the surety and bonding
companies. The vice-president of one
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, reliabil-
lty 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 can
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 shor" Peter had asked.
"Shot?" the other had repeated with
a gasp.
Il may have to send him long way
off. | 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
or his wife. I 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 It to The police for instance?"
"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 IL
there were there is no district attorney
who would ger anything out of cross
examination except evasions."
Upon a confirmation of this opinion
Peter had chosen this fat man with
two chins, pompadour of bristles
above broad fiat face with little eyes.
nose and mouth pricked into 1t as If
by point of pencil; 10 him Peter,
following the appointment he had
made, stated his problem
'Where are these accounts?" asked
EIdegard.
Peter put them upon the glass top
of the desk. The little beady eyes of
the fat man fixed stare upon the
Russia leather covers; he extended a
large meaty hand and caressed these
books as If they were delicacy
brought to him to cook and eat-a
pleasure of digestion-a mere morseI
for a gourmand.
AS he turned the pages marked nv
Peter he began 10 utter chu-chu. chu-
chu between his teeth. increasing its
speed as If getting up steam as a loco
motive puffs faster and faster when 1t
leaves a train shed.
whats this Credit Account X.D.Y
he inquired under his breath.
That's the one that occurs most
often" said Peter.
Eldegard drummed with his cush-
toned fingertips on the glass.
ut looks that way" he announced,
the way you said"
"But you are not sure?"
only sure as man is sure who
finds watercress In his milk. To be
sure we would have 10 check against
the transactions in the local cotton ex-
change. Some OF these are New Or
leans houses. The KID. was a private
individual"
DeWoife looked at the expert search