Show 1 I 0 ft 0 I P Private Investigator ator tor HI II Blows the Wind ind that I IB JW B BY BYE E. E PH I 1 L Li L I I. P PS S 0 OP P p PEN E N H E I M 8 4 Profits Nobody I Copyright n J J JJ 1 J- J 4 IB E lu luncheon cheon table around which 1 r the the four tour men were seated pred pre pre- i Id d d all the unlovely signs of 01 a meal conviviality has passed the thel l ids ds ds of license A magnum of ot I empty another half haIr full tull in in In the thc middle of the table table whis- whis 1 liquors of various sorts I all represented glasses some glasses some some ome empty some filled with ash ah h and stumps stumps stumps-an an ugly II t t le e guest In chief chic arose Short Set red-faced red with bulbous 0 eyes oyes Id I'd emed Indeed a very fitting perio perito per- per 1 ito io have been the recipient of such I faUty He stood clutching a lit Ht- it f tho the table cloth and swaying upon I feet It was wa-s obvious that he hc was a a. aon on on of or entirely different class from three companions Gentlemen Gentlemen he skid Aid id I must must must-be be beI t pI I I thank ou very cry much for this this this- 7 Honored Im I'm auro uuro to have e ii down down in such such such-such such company L. L all aIl d d. afternoon f e e lurched a little toward the door table table who who neighbor at the Tn also his host host caught caught hold of ot his 44 toll and pulled him back Into his y ir r. r Q fo a hurry Masters he said Ono One Onore Oner r re liquor eh eli Its It's a raw attern after after- fai n I not 7 another drop Sr Sir Richard 8 vel very much obliged to you ou nil all but Ji lust list be off oft Must be off he re ret retted re- re j t ted d. d making making- another effort to rises rise p s 's is host held him by the arm The 7 resented It It if all Im I'm not not- nota a prisoner am L She he exclaimed angrily Tell you got got club appointment club That's all right Masters the man bm m he had addressed as Sir Rich Rich- ty declared soothingly We Ye want wanta a a word with you on business first re re you go Colonel go-Colonel Colonel Dickinson f 1 Marries and myself ast asters rs relapsed sullenly into his ir So the they wanted to talk busl- busl I Perhaps it was for that reason they had bidden him him sit at their g g k ie had e-had had entertained him so 50 well ell I very veo thought cleared his brain f Ir Richard lighted a and t ed led further back in his chair Ho Hoa HoS S a a. man of apparently about fifty irs n 18 of ot age age tall tall well dressed with Ith features fe tures save for his mouth mouth mouth- aI 1 90 90 LA A t 4 1 nu it t He had the air of or a man I was vas a careful liver One would t ve ve judged him to be what ho he was was was- Ian an of fashion and a patron of or the thet t Masters he said we want to toL toak l L ak iLk k to you ou plainly We Ye three have a tI try as you OU know know ow i kInson and ancl myself myself to to f-to to mal mako mak the therk rk p of our lives 1 AVe We e failed and I. I h re up UI against it hard asters was sitting right rl looking 1001 at his host hObt A Take my own case first the latter I r am Sir Richard D Dyson l nth h baronet with estates in Wilt Wilt- re xe and Scotland and a town house Cleveland place There isn't a bit iCle y Winy my property that isn't mOlt mortgaged more than its value I have lx thousand pounds to pa pay you rou on ont t To save m my life I could coull not notI f Il six thousand farthings I l Take the ca case e next Sir Richard o of m my friend l here t es is an ear earl carl It is true truc but hut he hever i ver v r had a penny penn to bless himself I tl Hes He's tried acting reporting Carrying anything to make an honl hon hon- l What hat is the amount of or your our ourI I to t to Mr Masters Jim thousand two hundred V founds Lord M Morries ans answered JVe come come now Mr tr Masters Mastors rs to our I end Colonel Dickinson Sir Richard Colonel Dickinson is is pers perIn per- per s 5 In ina a more favorable situation I y n h. h an any of us Ho lie Hohas has a n. small but butlar butlar u t tI I lar Income and ho has s which it is not possible to mort- mort e. e tuIl fully A At t the same time it will wiIl any tany years before the they can can er er He Is therefore with us in somewhat unpleasant nt t t. In which we find ourselves Cut ut t It short Masters growled ats at's it all aU m mean n means t-means simply this Mr Masters Ichard said we want you to take notes for tor our Indebtedness ou asters rose to his feet o 0 that's t wh why Ive I've been asked here ted fed up with wine an anti and stuff eh oh e exclaimed thickly V I Well Vell 11 m my anI anto an- an I r to you oU is soon given No Xo h Richard Ir rose al also o to his feet teet Mr Masters I beg heg of you ou to be bo he hc said You will 10 do no good by adopting this at- at rde de Facts are ale facts V We haven't a a thou thou- thousand Jand pounds between 1 us in Ive I heard hoard that sort of or talk before answered with a a. sneer Job J lol oh is too old a 0 bird to be he caught such Buch chaff Ill I'll take m my risks rIsk g n- n men e moved toward the door The si siCe sice sico si- si co ce as he crossed the room seemed i Ittle ominous He Ic lol looked od over o his ulder The They wore were nIl all three stand stand- vin their places looking at him lIe He hed the door and turned the han- han 1 The door was fa fast t. t H He Ia 3 shook It at first and then violently Sud- Sud J iy ly he realized that it was locked Burned sharply around games game's this he exclaimed r reel cely l Let me mo out of or here o or Ill I'll ak tho door down clown Jr Jr Richard Dyson come toward him ore was as something in his appear appear- pe e c which terrified Masters He Hes Hesed Hesed s sed d his fist to strike e the door dool Mr Mr Masters Sir Richard said the truth I is that we cannot ri 01 lJ to let you go gO- gO go ez you n agree rH I ILdo do what we Irive hl asked Change hange mind MI Mr Masters Ta telF Take those thc e ten Well We'll 11 do our hC best t to moet meet t m. m Ill I'll do du nothing of ot the sort Mats Mac answered cl Til rn have cash nut hut cn n h h her vm a il lull thud thull the I r went vont over Vil like 1110 a aL at t L rabbit His Ills I legs twitch d for tOI a 1 moment then he Jay lay quite still Sh Sir Richard bent over oyer him Ive done it he hc muttered hoarse hoarse- ly One blow Thank heaven he didn't need anether His skull was as soft as pudding Ugh Ho turned away His trembling fIre fIre- gerM gera went vont out for tor the brand brandy decanter decante Its nervous OUS work this you ou fellows fel let lows he said hoarsely Its hellish Dickinson answered erod Lets Lets have e some air in the the- room My God Its It's close Dyson 10 looked leed at him sharply I Look here he exclaimed I hold you OU both to our bargain I was to be bethe bethe bethe the one ono he attacked and who struck I the blow blow In in self-defense self I that that that-it it was as self-defense self Andrew you ou know your task Be a man man and get to work Dickinson rose to his feet ily Yes he said What was It I have forgotten e You must get his betting book from his pocket Sir Richard directed Then you must help downstairs downstairs down down- stairs with him and into the car Met Mer l' l ries es is to Is-to to get rid of him ies shivered It is easy Sir Richard declared You have only to keep keel your nerve and th the thing is done No o one will see him Inside the car In that motoring motoring motor motor- ing lug coat and glasses You can drive somewhere out Into the country an and leave him Leave him Menles repeated trembling Leave Lea him him yes Neither of the two men moved I 1 must do o more than my share I suppose Sir Richard said con colt Come They dragged the mans man's bod body on to toa toa a a. chair wrapped a huge coat aroun around aroundhim aroundhim him tied a motoring cap under his chin fixed goggles over O his ey eyes Sir Richard strolled into the hall hail an and opened the front door He stood there for a moment looking up mill and down the street When hen he ho gave J. the signal the they dragged him out supported be between between Le- Le tween them across the pavement nto into the car His attitude was so natural as to be absolutely ghastly s started the car and sprang sprang into the drivers driver's seat Deat So long bug J Jimmy Imm Sir Richard called caled out See you this evening Right RilO O replied with a Ul f eLLUL P ETER RU RUFF flUFF F. F ate r ve summoned b by telephone from his sitting room oom slipped down the stairs like a cat cat noiseless noiseless swift The voice which had summoned him ha had been the voice volee of his secretary secretary-a a a voice shaken en with fear Fear No Xo it il had hadeen been een terror On the landing below exactly underneath un un- un- un the room from which he ha hade had de descended there was a door upon which hl hi his name was written upon a small LIU brass s plate plate Mr P Peter tel Ruff fluff He opened and clo closed cd it behind him hint with a swift movement which thich li he hp had practiced in his idle moments He lie found himself looking in upon Ullon a cu curIous curious en- en rious scene Miss Brown had risen from the scat seat in front of her typewriter and was standing fa facing Ing- Ing the door through h which he had entered with a small revolver re clasped in her outstretched hand hanc The object of her solicitude W was tva it eme to Peter Ruff Huff the most mot pitiful 1001 looking object upon which he had ever looked ed The hours had dwelt woh with I as the years cars with some people and worse e. e Ho lie had lost his cap his hair hung hung over his forehead in fn wild confusion confusion confusion con con- fusion his eyes eres were red bloodshot and absolutely aflame with the tho tori terl tenors ors through which he lie had lived Ills His cheeks were livid save ave for tor one burning burn burn- InS InS' ng ing spot pot lie was cowering back against the wall A Alid Ad d between n him and the the- girl ghI stretched upon Uon th the floor was the body o of a man in a huge metor motor motor mo mo- tor coat a limp inert mass No wonder that Poter Peter Ruff fluff looked around his office whose serenity had been so tragically disturbed with an anair anair anair air of or mild mUd surprise c Dear Dc me he exclaimed something something something some thing seems to have happened My J I d lear ar Violet you can put that revolver awa away I have secured the door Her hand fell to her side She Site gave g gaea a i little shiver of or relief Peter Ruff fluff That is more comfortable he ilC de de- de dared cared Now perhaps you ou will explain cx- cx plain V That young oung man she Interrupted or lunatic lunatic burst burst in hero here a few min min- I II TT- TT F I I I A I J a c 2 a y- y II ik k tJ ft t I V e I q t- t q H 4 I 1 6 I 1 ES I i. i I j. j Vc c t 1 I r 1 A. A J t. t 1 t. t t T t e 1 r i 1 i i I i I sL 4 c 1 u. u 11 t t 4 t I. I J TZ L y t. t S My lord lorl 1 office ollice m l is not mortuary t dear ear I my n 0 Ice a mor utes ago ngo dl dragging that dragging Ins g that She slie pointed to o the motionless figure upon the floor If I had not stopped him he would have lave bolted of off without a word of or ex ex- ex ph a na t o ti Pet Peter r Ruff Huff shook his head gra el gravely My ly dear Lord he said ai m my office orrice is not hot a mortuary Y You know mow me then e I g-a g gasped Of or course comic Huff answered It I Ismy is ismy my profession lon to snow mow everybody Co Go and sit sil Il down dovIl upon that cas easy chair and drink the brandy and soda oda which Miss MiFf Brown i is about t t to mix for Cor or you That's ight Ic staggered across s the tile room I Ian an and halt half ft 1 into an easy chair chah Perhaps now Itow Peter Ruff HuH suggested sug sug- ug- ug pointing poInting- to the motionless fI figure fig fig- ure you yell can give me some SOllie exp explanation lIlU- lIlU tion lion as to this titis There were wre three of or orIS us IS lunching to together to to- gether r. r began foul Com four of ci us altogether There was wa a situ und this man threatened us Afterwards there was a n fight It fell feU to m my lot to take tale him away and I 1 cant can't gut get rill rid of or him I J cant can't get g-et rid of ur him him I still do 10 not nol sec e Peter Ruff fluff argued ar nr- nr- nr gued why hy you should hould hove have brought him here hele and deposited him hint upon m my n perfectly new carpet You arc Peter Petel Ruff fluff de de- de dared Crime Investigator and Private Private vate Detective you call yourself You will know lenow what to do with it It I is I part of your our business I r can as assure you Peter Ruff Huff answered an an- that you oU are arc under a delusion delu sion slon as to the thc details of m my profession I am un Peter Ruff Huff and I 1 call myself a a. crime In estl Investigator Investigator Investigator-in In ator-In In fact I am nm the only emily one worth speaking 0 of in the thc worl world But I certainly den deny that I m mu air u used cd to having ha dead bodies deposited upon m my carpet an and that I mal make a habit of disposing disposing- of or them them especially especially gratis ra tI tore tOle open hi his coat cout 1 h he lie said his voice voie slinking shaking hysterically I 1 mu must t get el ri rid of it or go I have been leen driving For two hours ing hit about In a motor motOl car ar with with with-It it for Cor fora Cora a passenger r. r I drove to a quiet spot end cud ncI I 1 tried to lift It out out out-ct a policeman I mode iode up tip I tried a again aln a m rushed II by on a motorcycle and turned to look at me mo I J tried a few minutes minutes' r latr-r latI the policeman conic came back It was tas al always al- al ways the thc same une T Tie c night seemed d tf to have o eyes I was watched from flom every where The face began to mock me Inc Ill I'll swear that L heard it chuckle once Peter Ruff Huff moved mo a Co little further away tway I dont don't think Ill I'll have 0 an anything to todo do dt with wilh It If he cle bo ho all gill rl right ht with you declared en eagerly olly Its my nerves that's all You sep see I was vas thel when e-when when the accident happened Se Sc See here h ho hoa a added e tearing a n pocketbook from his coat coat I have e three c hundred and ancl seventy sev sc enty onty pounds saved aved up ill in case casc I ha have hav hato to bolt Ill I'll l keep cep seventy three hundred for you you you-to to dispose of It Ruff flUff leaned leanel over the motionless bOll body looked into its face and nodded MaUers aters the ho lie re ie marked Ilm nm I did hear heal that he be had hada hadl a n. lot of mone money coming to him over the Derby I t shuddered May I t go 7 ho Ito pleaded Theres the three hundred on the table Fo FOl 1 Gods God's sake let mc me go Io I Peter fiu Ruff fluff nodded cd lIe He turned th the lock am and i ru rushed hed out of or th the room Ruff fluff looked across the room toward his seret secretary r Ring fling up UI 1535 Central I he ordered sharply harly had descended emle from fron P his apartments on the top tOt floor floo of the building in a new ne brown suit sui with ith which he lie was loI violently to meet lUcet a calt callerI caller rI r. r I am sorry orr to in intrude e Mr 1 Ruff fluff I 1 believe it Is Sir Richard D Dyson on said ald saida alda a little Irritably but but ut I have not a great deal heal of to spare spare spare- Most ot natural Peter Huff declared de de- IC- IC dared i Pray Play take a n cl chair air Sir Richard You want ant to tJ l know kno now of course courso about Lord Lurd I and amid poor Matters In Sir Sic Richard stared at his questioner Tr Try the easy casy chair hair Sir Sit Richard Peter Ruff nurr continued pleasantly and amid male make yourself comfortable I should like e t to understand exactly what you have hav conic come to me inc for fOI Sir Richard moved his head toward Miss ti H Brown BIown |