Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

NOTHING BUT MONEY. “Just then a lot of society folks came ‘along and knew him. Old college chum ‘stuff. They took him away with them to be gone all night, dinner, theater, supper. “ Just as a matter of precaution, though I didn’t expect to find anything, I waited a couple of hours and slipped into his room. T opened a trunk and found a bag in it. I opened the bag, and it’s chock-a-block full of bank notes. “If I’d beaten it right away everything would be all right, but I couldn’t walk out of the hotel with a bag without questions, so I figured on counting the cash and tuck- ing it away all over me. I’m about up to a hundred thousand when in blows Hilwin. Like a boob I’d forgot to lock the door.” “ Boob is putting it mild,” complimented Hansen. “J cover him with my little automatic, but there’s a lot I want to know about the money, and all of a sudden he: kicks the gun out of my hand, busting the hand.” “Ought to have busted your head. Pick- ing pockets is about your limit, Moriaty, so it’s just as well you turned over this deal to me.” “ All right. I know I pulled a bone, but don’t rub it in. What can we do-now?” ‘Find out who the money belongs to. Once we know we can shake this feller down.” ‘‘ But supposing we can’t find out.” “You don’t suppose a couple of hundred thousand is kicking around without an own- er? This man who jumped off the boat stole the money from somebody. If he was hon- est and it belonged to him he wouldn’t have jumped, would he? Would you commit sui- cide with a quarter of a million unspent in your traveling bag? Course not. ' “ This crook just lost his nerve. proves he was an amateur. some bank cashier. small bills?” “ Twenties, nearly all of it.” “Hard to trace. when he started. This remorse is hell. Answer the ’phone, will you?” Moriaty obediently picked sis the tele- phone. “ Wants you.” Hansen reached for it. geant? What luck!” That Most probably You say it was in “That you ser- He wasn’t such a sap: 205 He listened for a couple of minutes to a recital of crimes from the other end. “Thank you, sergeant. You'll hear from me soon. “Nothing resembling this reported from anywhere. There’s been time enough, too, if this fellow Hilwin has been sporting round for three or four days. It’s kind of queer.”’ “What’s to be done?” ‘Get a line on Hilwin. Find out what herdid before he grabbed the bag. Find out where he worked, and where he lived. Learn what story he told to explain the change in his condition. Be very careful, though, not to tip anyone off about him. We don’t want anybody butting in on this case but us.” ‘* Hunting for a needle in a haystack, try- ing to trace a guy in New York.” ‘You poor fish, he’s probably in the city directory. If he’s been working in New York a year he’s there. And if he isn’t you'll find him in the Jersey City di- rectory. If there are a dozen Harry Hil- wins look them all up.” “Supposing you do find out all about him. What good will it do?” Hansen lost his patience. ‘ Go do what T tell you and don’t bother me with ques- tions. I know what I’m about.” ‘Oh, all right,” grumbled Moriaty, pick- ing up his hat. ‘ I’ll see you this afternoon and spill what I get.” After he had gone Hansen called up the Sun Detective Agency, and getting his con- nection talked with the manager. ‘That you, Jim? I want a good smooth operator put on the trail of Harry Hilwin, Hotel Mastodon. No, he ain’t done any- thing, but a friend of mine’s jealous of his wife and wants to know what this fellow’s doing all the time. Don’t do anything but keep tabs on him. I want to know who he sees and what he does every hour of the twenty-four. All right, put two operators on him, if you have to, ‘but don’t fall down on: it.” ; After he had hung up Mr. Hansen opened a box of cigars, picked a good one, bit off the end, spat it out viciously, lit up and leaned back in his chair with an air of complete satisfaction. <6 mMiclioolksacom