Elk 02 The Joker by Edgar Wallace Read Free Book Online Page A

did Harlow offer you when I so discreetly withdrew last night?’
    ‘That has nothing to do with the burglary,’ she answered promptly. ‘But as it wasn’t very important, I will tell you. He offered me a position.’
    ‘Where?’ he asked quickly.
    She shook her head.
    ‘I don’t know. We didn’t get as far as that; I told him I was perfectly happy with Mr Stebbings - who, by the way, used to be the lawyer of the Harlow family.’
    ‘Did you tell him that?’ He thrust his head forward eagerly.
    ‘Why, no - he told me, though of course I knew,’ she said. ‘He knew, the moment I mentioned Stebbings’s name.’
    ‘Was he impressed?’ he asked after a pause and she laughed.
    ‘How ridiculous you are! Seriously, Mr - ‘she paused insultingly.
    ‘Carlton,’ he murmured; ‘half-brother to the hotel but no relation to the club.’
    ‘You worked that one last night,’ she said.
    ‘And I shall work it every night you pretend to forget my name! Anyway, it is a confession of crass ignorance which no modern young woman can afford to make. I am one of the most famous men in London.’
    ‘I think I’ve heard you say that before,’ she said mendaciously. ‘Now tell me seriously, Mr Carlton - ’
    ‘Got it!’ he murmured.
    ‘What do you want to know about the burglary?’
    ‘Nothing,’ was the shameless reply. ‘As a matter of fact, I have saved you a great deal of trouble by supplying headquarters with all the details they need. Your uncle emerges tomorrow; do you know that?’
    ‘Tomorrow?’ she said, with a pang of apprehension.
    ‘And Elk is going to meet him and take some of the sting out of his anger. I suppose he will be very angry?’
    ‘He’ll be furious,’ said the girl, troubled. And then, with a quick sigh, ‘I’ll be awfully glad when he has “emerged,” as you call it. He allows me two pounds a week for my trouble, but I can well spare that.’
    ‘Arthur Ingle ought to be ashamed of himself to drag you into the light which shines so brightly upon the unjust,’ he said. ‘There is only one thing I want to know about him, and perhaps you can tell me - was your uncle a great speculator?’
    ‘I don’t think so. But really I don’t know. He never spoke to me about any investments. Is that what you mean?’
    ‘That is just what I mean,’ said Jim. He found it difficult to put the question without offence. ‘You’ve had interviews with him and I dare say you’ve discussed his business to some extent. I shouldn’t ask you to betray his confidence and I don’t suppose for one minute you will. Did he ever talk about foreign gilt-edged investments?’
    She was shaking her head before he finished the question.
    ‘Never,’ she said. ‘I don’t think he knows much about them. I remember the first time I saw him at Dartmoor he told me he didn’t believe in putting money in shares. Of course, I’m well aware he has money, but you know that, too, and I suppose it is stolen money that he’s - ’
    ‘Cached - yes,’ said Jim.
    He was very serious. It was the first time she had seen him in that mood and she rather liked it.
    ‘Only one more question. You don’t know that he is in any way connected with a firm called Rata?’
    And, when she confessed that she had never heard of such a firm, his seriousness was at an end.
    ‘And that’s the whole of the questionnaire, back page and everything!’
    He leaned back to allow the burly waiter to place the dish on the table. ‘Sole bonne femme is good for the tired business girl. Will you have wine, or just the Lord’s good water?’
    After this he became his old flippant self. He made no further allusion to her uncle; and if he talked a great deal about himself, it was interesting, for he talked shop, and Scotland Yard shop is the second most interesting in the world. He lived at his club.
    ‘I’d better give you the telephone number in case you ever want me.’ He scrawled the address on the back of the menu and tore off the