Adventure, December 1914 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

126 partner’s. The effort was rather a failure. Mr. Issachar went gaily on. . “And one of the matters we took over was the bill of sale on the Dovecote. And of course, aS we’ve been out of our money a good time and the whole thing is a lot over- due, we—we had to do something. Hadn’t we, Daniel?” Mr. Daniel put his finger up to his neck and pulled up his collar. “Of course we had; certainly we had. Mr. Adair will see we had—he’s a reasonable man. We are not rolling in riches, as he is —now; of course we had to do something, so—so we idid it. What objection have you to make, Mr. Adair?” By this time Mr. Daniel had recovered a certain amount of his assurance; he had even got so far as to stand, with his feet well apart, his hands thrust deep into his trouser pockets, regarding the visitor with a sort of defiant smile. Mr. Issachar also seemed to gain in impudence. “T suppose, Mr. Adair, we’re right to try to get our money, although we are not quite good enough for a fine gentleman like you. You are looking different from what you were the first time I saw you, Mr. Adair; or, for the matter of that, the last time. Isn’t he, Daniel?”’ “‘A bit of money does make a difference in the appearance of a man. You look, Mr. Adair, as if you’d been wallowing in it all your life. Mr. Adair looks quite the aristo- crat, doesn’t he, Issachar?”’ “Every inch of him. Wonderful, Mr. Adair, how a man’s real character does come out; any one could see now that you’re a gentleman born and bred.” ‘‘When you have both quite finished, and before you have wasted all your sweetness, let me ask if you expect me to believe a word you say. You pair of liars!’ The speaker smiled as he said this, in a way his listeners did not seem to like. “Y’m going to offer you a choice of courses. You can either persist in the state- ment you have just now made, in which case it will become a matter for the police; or you will exhibit for my inspection the whole contents of this room, and I will take away with me such papers as it is quite clear you must have stolen from Creed in the first instance, and in the second in- stance—what is much more important— from me. “T will give you a minute to make up Adventure your mind which of these courses you will select. In the event of your choosing nei- ther, I will offer you a third alternative. If you prefer it, I will take the law into my own hands, treat you both to a thrashing, drop you, if necessary, out of the window, and find out, without your assistance, what stolen property of mine you have in your possession. To begin with, I want that bill of sale on the Dovecote.” || SOME of Mr. Issachar’s courage ‘] \& had evaporated again, as his tone = showed. “You—you really aren’t treating us fairly, Mr. Adair; you really aren’t. But if you'll allow me to say a few words to my partner in private I’ll see what we can do.” “Everything you have to say to Daniel, or Daniel has to say to you, you'll say out loud, where you are. Be quick, please! I want that bill of sale on the Dovecote.”’ Mr. Daniel tried to thrust himself into the breach. “Let me explain, Mr. Adair—you really must. You know we’re a lot of money out of pocket. Mr. Creed owed us no end - “Hand over that bill of sale, you thief and liar!” ‘You mustn’t use such language to us, Mr. Adair, you—you mustn’t do it.” “If you have any claims against Creed’s estate—which I don’t believe—send them in to Mr. Foster. Now, as the auctioneer says, for the last time—are you going to hand me over that bill of sale?” Mr. Issachar still tried to expostulate. “Tf you'll only have a moment’s patience, Mr. Adair Mr. Adair!” Before the lawyer could complete his sen- tence, the visitor, coming round the table, had swept him and his chair away, and was opening the drawer in the table. “T warned you, Issachar—now I’m going to look for myself.” Adair was dealing with the contents of the drawer with a freedom which pained the partners. “Here, Mr. Adair!” cried Mr. Daniel. ‘“‘We’re not going to stand this. Those are our private papers; they’re not yours. Issa- char, you had better ring that bell.” ‘Yes, Issachar, you ring it; we shall want the police, no doubt, before we’ve done. I recognize a good many of these papers. You seem to have been stealing on a wholesale scale. Gomiicovook (C©