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Read Ebook: Two Wonderful Detectives; Or Jack and Gil's Marvelous Skill by Old Sleuth
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Ebook has 1046 lines and 23595 words, and 21 pages
"Willingly, light-footed one," said the old Fustian. "And mine is the shame for the discourtesy of youth."
Retief took out a tiny camera, flipped a copying lens in place, leafed through the drawings, clicking the shutter.
"A plague on these youths," said the oldster, "who grow more virulent day by day."
"Why don't you elders clamp down?"
"Agile are they and we are slow of foot. And this unrest is new. Unknown in my youth was such insolence."
"The police--"
"Bah!" the ancient rumbled. "None have we worthy of the name, nor have we needed ought ere now."
"What's behind it?"
"They have found leaders. The spiv, Slock, is one. And I fear they plot mischief." He pointed to the window. "They come, and a Soft One with them."
Retief pocketed the camera, glanced out the window. A pale-featured Groaci with an ornately decorated crest stood with the youths, who eyed the hut, then started toward it.
"That's the military attache of the Groaci Embassy," Retief said. "I wonder what he and the boys are cooking up together?"
"Naught that augurs well for the dignity of Fust," the oldster rumbled. "Flee, agile one, while I engage their attentions."
"I was just leaving," Retief said. "Which way out?"
"The rear door," the Fustian gestured with a stubby member. "Rest well, stranger on these shores." He moved to the entrance.
"Same to you, pop," said Retief. "And thanks."
He eased through the narrow back entrance, waited until voices were raised at the front of the shed, then strolled off toward the gate.
The second dark of the third cycle was lightening when Retief left the Embassy technical library and crossed the corridor to his office. He flipped on a light. A note was tucked under a paperweight:
"Retief--I shall expect your attendance at the IAS dinner at first dark of the fourth cycle. There will be a brief but, I hope, impressive Sponsorship ceremony for the SCARS group, with full press coverage, arrangements for which I have managed to complete in spite of your intransigence."
Retief snorted and glanced at his watch. Less than three hours. Just time to creep home by flat-car, dress in ceremonial uniform and creep back.
Outside he flagged a lumbering bus. He stationed himself in a corner and watched the yellow sun, Beta, rise rapidly above the low skyline. The nearby sea was at high tide now, under the pull of the major sun and the three moons, and the stiff breeze carried a mist of salt spray.
Retief turned up his collar against the dampness. In half an hour he would be perspiring under the vertical rays of a third-noon sun, but the thought failed to keep the chill off.
Two Youths clambered up on the platform, moving purposefully toward Retief. He moved off the rail, watching them, weight balanced.
"That's close enough, kids," he said. "Plenty of room on this scow. No need to crowd up."
"There are certain films," the lead Fustian muttered. His voice was unusually deep for a Youth. He was wrapped in a heavy cloak and moved awkwardly. His adolescence was nearly at an end, Retief guessed.
"I told you once," said Retief. "Don't crowd me."
The two stepped close, slit mouths snapping in anger. Retief put out a foot, hooked it behind the scaly leg of the overaged juvenile and threw his weight against the cloaked chest. The clumsy Fustian tottered, fell heavily. Retief was past him and off the flat-car before the other Youth had completed his vain lunge toward the spot Retief had occupied. The Terrestrial waved cheerfully at the pair, hopped aboard another vehicle, watched his would-be assailants lumber down from their car, tiny heads twisted to follow his retreating figure.
So they wanted the film? Retief reflected, thumbing a cigar alight. They were a little late. He had already filed it in the Embassy vault, after running a copy for the reference files.
But how had these two known of the film? There had been no one present but himself and the old-timer--and he was willing to bet the elderly Fustian hadn't told them anything.
At least not willingly....
Retief frowned, dropped the cigar over the side, waited until the flat-car negotiated a mud-wallow, then swung down and headed for the shipyard.
The door, hinges torn loose, had been propped loosely back in position. Retief looked around at the battered interior nd you had taken all due precautions."
"Yes, I had, but there I was with this vast fortune, and as it appeared, no way of finding out the owner of it. The ten years passed following the fire, completing the twenty. I never heard from the individual who had deposited the money with me, nor did any one else make a claim; and so twenty years more have passed and no claimant has appeared, and I am in possession of the fortune."
"It is certainly all very strange," said Jack, "but I cannot see where you are in any way to blame."
"I am, though."
"How?"
"I feel that I am to blame, however."
"How?"
"There was the same chance of fire in your residence."
"No, you see, my house is well guarded against fire. I am a bachelor, and the ordinary chances of a fire in a private residence do not equal those in a public building where there are thousands of tenants. Yes, I feel that at the end of twenty years I should have made an effort to find the real owners without the aid of a letter."
"And did you not do so?"
"No; I was engaged in large transactions, and the fact that the twenty years had expired escaped my memory, and five years or more elapsed before I recalled the fact of the letter; then I placed the matter in the hands of a detective. He advertised and made search. He questioned as concerned the appearance of the man who deposited the fortune with me, but I could give him no more information than I have given you."
"I think, sir, you have been faithful to your trust."
"It is very kind of you to say so, but I cannot agree with you. I blame myself, and if the owner of the fortune is not found, I always shall blame myself."
"What more could you have done?"
"Had I started in immediately after the expiration of the twenty years I might have been successful. The real owners of the fortune might have known something about the affair and have been on the lookout for information, but after five years they may have given up in despair."
"And you want me to find the owner of the fortune?"
"Yes."
"I certainly will perform a great detective feat if I succeed."
"Yes, you will."
"Accident may aid me; I owe a great deal to accident in my past investigations."
"I will tell you one thing: it is worth your while to succeed."
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