Arthur Somers Roche

“ Pelham went to the office of the Tryon Agency, in which he was a silent partner. But he found Jerry Tryon awaiting for him now at his apartment. With Jerry was a choleric old gentleman, Robert Bleakie, of tho international banking house of Bleakie & Horton, and it was concerning his partner that he had called upon Tryon, who, in turn, had brought him here.
"And if you were a Dalai lama you couldn't be harder to reach," said Bleakie, after the introductions had been performed. "I had an idea that any detective would be glad to be retained by Bleakie & Horton. ”

“ I found, within the house that Ferry last visited, all of the rich collectors. The actors had been kidnaped because they could impersonate millionaires. The millionaires had been kidnapped in order to make way for the actors who would impersonate them and sell their property. ”

“ And I can't find anyone to play them."
"What do you mean?" asked Pelham. "Are character actors as scarce as that?"
"Good actors, like good detectives or generals or kings or cooks, are always scarce," declared Deweese. "There are, outside of a few recognized stars, just seven men on the American stage capable of playing, with distinction, the parts of men between fifty-five and seventy. I mean men with some reputation, who'd draw a few dollars into the box office." ”

“ They seemed to have disappeared, along with five other character actors—Minister, Blanford, Kelley, Sheddon and Garceau. They were all more or less friendly, all about the same age and all actors. And it looks funny to us. Last night one of the committees of the Wolves had its monthly meeting. It's a committee that has broad powers. Talking over those two deaths and the continued disappearance of the five other men, we decided—well, we didn't decide any thing except to ask you to look into tho matter. It's hard for us to believe that even the direst poverty would drive Septen to suicide. ”

“ In three cases their rooms had been rented to other people and their bag gage stored in the cellar. The others happened to have paid in advance, and their rooms, or apartments, were ready for them. And it was not extraordinary that their landlords had not reported their disappearance to the police. Any one of them might have obtained a sudden engagement with a road company or with a motion picture concern that necessitated instant travel. ”

“ You're working for me. That's your weekly salary to start," said Pelham.
Young Boyd grinned impudently at him. "I'll be getting seventy-two this time next month, if you know a good man when you see him," he said.
Pelham smiled; then his eyes grew eager. "What's the address of the house that Ferry entered?" he asked.
The boy told him. Bewilderment appeared in Pelham's eyes. Then, bidding young Boyd follow, he raced downstairs, out of the building and into the taxi waiting for Boyd. He ordered the man to drive to the corner of 71st street and Madison avenue. ”

“ I've always gone in for sport and more or less of a good time. Tom is different. He rarely even plays cards. His idea of a good time its to collect rare antiquities, precious stones, first editions of ancient books—all that sort of thing. ”

“ You must understand that because you've paid two hundred thousand dollars for a painting doesn't mean that you can get that price for it at a moment's notice. It takes time to find a purchaser who will meet your price. ”

“ I'd rather be dead than subject my partner and dearest friend to such indignities. But at the same time I do not like to see him lose $15,000,000. I came to you to have you tell me if there is any way short of legal proceedings whereby I can prevent Tom from this insanity."
Pelham shrugged. "I'm afraid that such a matter is completely out of our line, Mr. Bleakie," he told the banker. "A man has a right to dispose of his property as he sees fit. Only you or Mr. ”

“ So do the other men. And, as usual, they don't know where he is, and if they did they wouldn't tell."
"But how could he know that the actors would consent to turn criminals?" asked Bleakie.
"Fear works wonders," answered Pelham, dryly. "The Gray Ghost had planted his own men as secretaries and valets in the households of his victims. He spends a year in plannlng, if need be. The actors knew that if they disobeyed they would be killed. Septen tried to betray his captors. ”