|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 2
Adam Adams bowed. He rarely spoke unless there was occasion for it.
"May I ask if you are now at liberty?" pursued the young man.
"At liberty? Bless you, no! I have half a dozen cases on hand. Two
here in the city--one over in New Jersey--one in Yonkers, and--"
"But you will undertake a case for me, if I pay you well for it, won't
you?" interrupted the young man eagerly. "Don't say no--please don't!"
And there was a ring of agony in his speech. "I am depending upon you!"
The detective paused before replying, and looked the young man over
with care. The clean-cut features showed not a sign of dissipation,
and the expression was honesty itself. Certainly the young man had not
gotten into trouble on his own account.
"I should want to know something about the case before I promised to do
anything."
"Certainly--of course--" The young man cleared his throat again.
"You can tell me what the trouble is and if I decline to take the case
I will give you my promise not to say a word to any outsider of what
has passed between us."
"Oh, I know I can trust you, Mr. Adams, otherwise I should not have
called here. My father said you were the squarest man he had ever
dealt with. I came to see you about the Langmore affair."
"You mean the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Barry Langmore at Beechwood Hill?"
"Yes."
Adam Adams was surprised, although he did not show it. What had this
rich young man, who lived in Orange, New Jersey, and did business in
Wall Street, to do with that double tragedy which had so shocked the
community?
"I presume you know some of the particulars of the sad affair," resumed
Raymond Case. "The newspapers have been full of it."
"I know that the pair were found murdered. I have not looked into
details, being so busy with other matters."
"It was an outrageous deed, Mr. Adams!" cried the young man, jumping up
and beginning to pace the floor. "One of the foulest of which I have
ever heard."
"A murder is always foul, no matter under what circumstances it is
committed. What do you wish me to do?"
"Find the murderer."
"That may not be easy. Are not other detectives already working on the
case?"
"Yes, but they are only local men and not worth their salt."
"They may be doing all that can be done. It is a mistake to presume
that every mystery of this sort can be solved. Here in New York men go
to their death every year and nobody ever finds out how, or by what
hand."
"But the local men simply jump at conclusions. They are a set of blind
fools, and--" The young man stopped short.
Adam Adams smiled faintly. He knew something of the bungling work done
by detectives of small caliber. Had he not himself once saved a poor
Jew from hanging after several country detectives had apparently proved
the fellow guilty? And had not those same sleuths of the law been
angry at him ever since?
"Excuse me, Mr. Case, but how is it that you take an interest in this
affair?" he asked. "Are you related to the Langmores in any way?"
"I am not." The young man began to blush. "Is it necessary that I
tell you why?" he stammered.
"It is not necessary for you to tell me anything," responded the
detective dryly.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|