Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 720 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

: } — as ” 4: At this Mr. Ferret laughed a dry little laugh that was like a cackle, “T admire your frank manner, anyhow,” he declared. ‘‘1l hope that we shall know more of each other, and that your opinion of me will ripen into a good one.” ‘“*T¢ will depend entirely on you, if it does or does not,” decided Billy. ““Of course you are here in response to my note,”observed Mr, Finck. ‘‘ You have said as much, so the question is idle. Let us now to husiness.” ‘* Yes, let’s get the cat by the tail at once. Are we to talk the business before Mr. Ferret?’ ** Most assuredly. It was to have you consult with him that I[ invited you here. Mr. Ferret is a detective, in the employ of the Equivalent Insurance Company. He is here working up an important case.” roadway Billy looked at Mr, Ferret with a new interest. That gertleman smiled, his face puckering it- self into a succession of wrinkles, “So, that’s the how of it, eh?’ Billy re- marked. ‘‘ Well, if that’s the case, I guess I had better make my little bow and retire. I don’t care to set myself up as the peer to a pro- fessional.” “Let me say a word about that,” spoke Mr. Ferret. ‘‘I am a professional, itis true. You may have heard of me. My name is Alexander Keene Ferret, in full; which I abbreviate to A, Keene Ferret. Quite an appropriate name for one in our line, eh?” ‘A, Keene Ferret ought to be a good one,” Billy acknowledged. ‘* If name counts for any- thing, you ought to get there every time, MP, Ferret,” ‘* And I ’most always do, too,” was the return. ** Just now, however, | seem to have a case that puzzles me,” ‘*It is of little use for me to have anything to do with it then,” Billy modestly observed, ‘* We will see about that later. We want to consult with you about it, anyhow.” ** Well, then, let ’er slide!” and leaning back in bis chair aad crossing his legs, Billy was ready to hear whatever was coming. * You may state the case if you please, Mr, Finck,” said the detective, giving the young man that part in the matter in ar ss ee’ well, if you say so.” And then turn- ing to Billy and putting on a serious air, the agent went on: ‘*T mentioned you to Mr. Ferret, and it was at his request that you were called here. We want to give the facts of the case to you, and see what you think of it. We know by the repu- tation you enjoy that you have had experience, and that your opinion will be worth something.” ‘* Say,” interrupted Billy, ‘‘ let all that rest, if you please, aud gct down to the particulars of the jcase,”’ ‘Right, there!” put in Skinny. ‘All bis reatness lies at the end of his tongue, Mr. inck,” ‘* You keep quiet,” ordered Billy, ‘‘ or I'll fold you up and put you in my pocket.” . ‘* Well, then, for the case: A little less than a year agoan old gentleman came to me seek- ing insurance on his life. Hs was a man about seventy years of age. His name was Hiram Lodgelaw, and he was a well-known and re- spected citizen of this place. ‘* His age was against him, of course, but he passed examination all right, and took out a policy for a large amount, making it payable to his young wife. Hecame to us of his own ac- cord, and so far 4s I have, been able to find out, without consulting anybody about it. His widow declares that she knew nothing about it until it was all done, when he put the policy into her hands, ‘‘ His was a rather peculiar case. He was well-to-do, but his income was his only during life; he could not dispose of it by will. At his death it went to another part of the Lodgelaw family. Knowing this, and wanting to provide for his widow, as he explained it, he considered life insurance bis best and only means of attain- ing the desired end. Accordingly, as I said, he was insured, and for as Jarge an amount as the one would allow. ** He paid bis premium, and everything rested quietly until about. seven weeks ago, when be suddenly died. The doctors attributed bis death toanatural cause, after careful examination, and he was buried. 1 had .been promptly noti- fied, and forwarded the facts of the matter to headquarters, I have no yersonal opinign to ress, one way or the other, though if my opinion were demanded it would have to be that I can see nothing crooked about the affair. Mr. Lodgelaw was too well known to admit of his Broadway Bi — lly’s Full Hand. being concerned in any fraud. He was simply insured, all in good faith so far as any one knew, und now he is dead, ‘The insurance company, however, is not sat- isfied with the case, and the matter is under of- ficial investigation. Mr. Ferret has been sent here to look into it, but there seems to be noth- ing to look into, Itseems to bea plain and hon- est deal, all round, and public opinion is that the widow ought to have the money. On my own part, being the agent of the company, Il have nothing tosay. If there has been any crooked business anywhere, I want it hunted out and the thing exposed. I don’t want the company to be swindled, On the other band, if itis all straight, then I think the woman ought tobe paid. That is the case, and with it you have my opinion after all. Now what do you think of it?” ‘* There don’t seem to be any case aboutit. If that is the situation, and Mr, Ferret can’t alter it, | guess the company will have to come down with the money,” was Billy’s promptly expressed opinion, ‘“That is the way it looks,” confessed the in- surance detective, ‘* But, Mr. Weston, if you had been sent here, as I have been, what would be your move? Let’s see bow near alike we think,” ‘* What would be my move? Why, I’d go into the thing and plow it up from ‘way back, and I'd settle it in my own mind one way or the other, and call it done,” CHAPTER IV, BILLY’S BIT OF ADVICE, The detective looked at Billy keenly, smiling. “That is the very thing 1 am trying to do,” he admitted. ‘* Well, then, why don’t you do it?’ demanded Billy. ‘* The field is open.” ‘*T know it is; but there is such a thing as making a beginning on a case you take up.” ‘* Well, if you haven’t made a beginning you are wasting time,” was Bi ly’s comment on that. ‘* You bad better begin.” ‘‘ What I am driving at,” the detective made plain, ‘tis to ask you where you would make your beginning, if you were in my place. You have all the facts of the case, and know as much about it as I do,” ‘*Say, do you want me todo your work for you?” Billy asked. ‘*T would pay for your help, if you could lend me any assistance in it,” was the answer. ‘* Which I don’t believe I can,” Billy declared. ‘Tf you want me to take the case and tackle it for you, Pll do that, with’Skinny’s help.” ‘*T think we’ve got about all we can handle now,” protested Skinny. ‘Why, what else are you working at?” asked the detective. ‘*This Rentaway murder,” answered Skinny. ‘‘ Now, Shadowy, you’re telling tales out of ee.” Billy admonished. ‘* You shouldn’t do that. ‘*So, you intend to try your hand at that affair, eb?’ spoke tke detective in something of admiration. ‘If that is so, no’use looking for any assistance from you in this matter.” ‘There is something there to work op,” said Billy. ‘“*‘ You don’t seem to know whether you have got a case or not. I guess I'll stick to the one I have got in tow; but if you want me to lend you a hand, when you get started, why, just call on me, If I can’t come myself I’Jl send Skinny.” ‘Well, I will do that,” the detective agreed, ‘*T am glad I have met you, although calling you here has amcunted to little result.” ‘© And we'll be going,” returned Billy. ‘* You wanted my opinion, and you have had it, plain, No charge.” He rose, and Skinny with him, and after a few words more all around, the two went out, ‘That was a flat fake,” remarked Skinny, as soon as they reached the street. ‘‘ So it appears, my slender shadow. What is your opinion about the supposed case?” **T don’t believe there is any case atall, I guess it’s a square deal, and the insurance folks will have to come down.” ‘* It may be, but you can’t say that this detec- tive is altogether a fool. If he bad no ability he would not be in the employ of that company, would he?’ ‘* Tbere’s reason in that, sure,” ‘* And he has a pair of eyes that speak for themselves,” ‘* Well, what’s your opinion, then? You seem to have something in your crop,” ‘* My opinion is that there is a good deal in the case. I don’t know what it is vet, but I’m going to find out,” ‘Great ginger! You don’t mean to say you are going to work at it, do you?” ‘* That's what’s the matter. I am interested in it, Sweet pertaters! you can’t mention any- thing that’s gota mystery toit, but what you raise my detective fever a few degrees. Going into it? Of course m going intoit. And if a third case comes along, I'll tackle that, too.” There was no doubting that he meant it. “You’re going to get too many ironsin the fire,” warned Skinny, “‘and the first you know you will makea mess of everything.” “Well, there’s one consolation, if I do,” ‘* And what’s that?” ‘* You'll be in the boat with me. We’ll both go down together.” ‘*Not much!” Skinny protested. ‘I’ve got nothing to do withit, It is your own funeral,” “All right, then, my tender little lily-of-the- valley, Vil remember that, and if good luck comes my way and I scoop that reward that’s offered, you don’t get a smell of it. How do you like that?” ‘*Ob! I'm in with you on that case,” Skinny quickly assured. ‘I’m into it to protect you, as I’ve said before, It is this other that lm kicking about,” Billy laughed, and bantered his thin partner all the way back to the hotel, where they went direct from the insurance office. There sa inquired whether anything new had appeared in regard to the murder mystery, and was assured that nothing had. It stood the same, What. the inquest would bring out, re- mained to be seen. The inquest was to be held on the following forenoon, if everything went according to pro- gramme, and Billy and Skiony promised them- selves that they would be on band. The father of the murdered youn man, it was understood, bad declared his belief in the inno- cence of the accused man, This was something Billy was glad to .hear, for it was in accord witb his own idea. Billy watched his chance, and engaged bis landlord in conversation again. After some remarks about the murder, he changed the subject. ‘*Were you acquainted with Mr. Lodgelaw., , who died some time ago?” he inquired, ‘* Yes; everybody knowed him,” was the an- swer. ‘* Nice old man, buta good deal too easy- goin’ for this rougb world.” ‘* How was that?” ‘*Oh, anybody could worm into his great big heart, that’s all,” ‘* Rather inclined to be generous and free with his money, I suppose?” ‘Yes, though he didn’t throw any of the needful away. Darn nice wife he got, all the same.” ‘‘TIn what sense do you mean that?” ‘‘Mean just what I say. Sbe’s a fine little woman,” ‘* Was she his wife long before he died?” ‘* A year or two; don’t recollect just how long a spell it was,” ‘* Married her here, did he?” ‘*No; she’s from Mexico. Her folks American, though.” ‘‘T see, I’ve heard about her aoe t, in getting the insurance, or something of that kind. Seems to me she ought to have it.’ “Ob, she'll get it; no doubt about thaf. Plenty of time yet. [suppose the company must was monkey just so long, anyhow, and run it through — the red-tape mill once or twice before they shell out,” ‘* Probably. There’s talk about there being fraud somewhere, but I don’t see how that can be.” ‘‘That’s all bosh. There was no fraud in bon- est old Hiram Lodgelaw; not a bit of it.” ‘‘ No, of course not; but they think there was somebody else might have been concerned in it,” ‘Nonsense! ‘The company will have to pony up, or they may as well shut up shop in this town. ‘* And the ohly one that could be concerned in fraud would be the widow.” ‘Yes; and you might as well look for fraud in an angel,” ‘ That settles that affair then.” So Billy said, but he didn’t speak his thoughts about it, He bad had experience enough to know that appearances were not always to be relied on, Not that he had any reason to beliéve there was anything wrong about the matter, but be had not investiga self otberwise. ‘‘T tell you what it is, Skinny,” he remarked: to his lean» lieutenant, ‘‘ we have got 4 band this time, If this insurance business eS ee far enough to assure him=