Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

i) r foe be | hi a Ki & 548 there?” Cliff eyed the large, legal-looking envelope clutched in one fat hand, ne Henry held it out. ‘“A clerk was asking the elevator boy just now where our office was and I re- lieved him of this. Said he was from Grosvenor Hood. If ever I tackle such a job again—”’ “Oh, the duplicate lists I wanted of the servants employed at Monckton Manor, and those of the guests who stayed there.” Cliff glanced rapidly through them and then looked up. ‘ Did you find number eight hundred and twenty-six?” e “I did!” Henry announced with un- wonted bitterness. ‘ It was a dog hospital and a hiding place for stolen thoroughbreds it I don’t miss my guess! The big bruiser left in charge by the fake vet must have got a hunch that I was a dick, for he told me to get out or be thrown out! It’s the third bawling out I’ve had to-day over ess confounded numbers—”’ ‘Never mind, it'll be the last.” Clift assured him consolingly. ‘‘ Ill have to ask you to do some more work that’s a little out of your line, though, Henry, for the rest of us are all busy. In this list of De Puyster Monckton’s guests since he opened the country house last month, only four ladies are mentioned, three of whom brought maids with them, but we’ll leave them aside tor the time being. The gentlemen all ti ught valets and two of them chauffeurs, but among them all there are just three that I think will bear looking up now. ““Vou'll find them all here in the ‘city, if they’re still in the same situations. I want a line on Judge Abner Francis’ valet, whose only name here is ‘Isaac,’ Dr. Lowell Kibbe’s chauffeur, Paolo Galli, and Mr. Waldron Ingram’s valet, Hugh Brins- ley. You'll find the judge and the doctor in the phone book, and Waldron Ingram is the president of the Citizens’ and Aliens’ Trust Company.” “ Hah!” Henry snorted. ‘“ And am I to go to the basement door and try to sell patent medicines to ’em? That’s the only way I know!” “ That wouldn’t work, in this case.” Cliff repressed a smile. ‘Go directly to their employers, show your credentials, state that ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. we are investigating the murder on behalf of Richard Monckton and ask for an inter- view incognito with these valets and this chauffeur, in order to quiet some suspicions we have about the servants at the Manor. That will do for an excuse.” “And what do you want me to find out when I do talk to ’em?” Henry asked skeptically but with returning good nature. ‘Study them,” Cliff responded. “ You know a crook when you see one, don’t you? I want to know if ‘Isaac’ and Hugh and the chauffeur are on the level or are spotters for some gang.” “God A’mighty, ain’t you given up the idea yet that there was a real burglar?’ Henry rose wearily. “I might as well be on my way and get it over, but you’re drilling a dry hole, Cliff, for sure!”’ “You heard, Ethel?” Cliff asked* with a shrug after the medical expert had de- parted upon his uncongenial task. ‘“‘ That’s the way they all feel!” “Don’t you care, Mr. Nichols!” Ethel returned blithely. “It’s their own fault ii they miss the big show, for we’re going to find that man!” They spent a busy hour calling up the various exchanges but 6090 seemed to bring as little definite result as the former number had done and Cliff rose impatiently at last. “Ethel, I’m going to run up to the Monckton house once more. There are only a few calls yet for you to try and I'll be back before dinner-time.” ‘All right!” She smiled up at him with undaunted enthusiasm. ‘I’m sure I’ll have some news for you when you come. I can feel it, just like I sort of knew we’d have something big, and couldn’t keep away any longer.” Her spirits were infectious and Cliff felt unaccountably cheered and encouraged as he left her and started uptown. It seemed impossible that with only those hastily scrawled numbers to serve as a clew they would be able in all the teeming millions of the city to lay their hands on the murderer of De Puyster Monckton, and yet his faith in the little blue-eyed ex-shoplifter had been confirmed. She was more of a handwriting ‘expert than he, and if anything came of her discovery ‘the credit should be hers alone! COPmicooolkS se©