Two Wonderful Detectives - LightNovelsOnl.com
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"I have, yes. Is that your real name?"
"My friend, you have called on me."
"Yes, I am here."
"I did not invite you to come here, you came uninvited."
"I did."
"Who are you?"
"I may tell you or I may not."
"Are you well acquainted with Jersey law, sir?"
"Pretty well."
"That's lucky, for when I tell you that you must get out of this room you will understand that in the law I have a right to make the request."
"Yes, you have a right to make the request."
"And enforce it, my friend."
"Ah! that's different."
"Then you dare intimate that you won't leave this room?"
The pretended countryman quietly drew a pistol, c.o.c.ked it with equal deliberation, and said:
"Yes, sir, I dare intimate that I won't leave this room until I get ready."
"You are an intruder."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
"What are you?"
"A gentleman."
"Oh, you are?"
"Yes, I am."
"Do you see this?"
"I do; and do you see this?"
Both men displayed pistols, and the visitor's tone fell off a little.
"My friend," said Jack, "I am not afraid of pistols, I am used to them.
Why, my dear fellow, I always sleep with them under my pillow, eat with them under my napkin, hide one under my Bible when I go to church; in other words, I am never without a barker."
The visitor listened with a look of surprise on his face.
"Why do you always go thus armed?"
"So as to be ready to shoot at a moment's notice; so as to be ready when some impertinent bully draws a weapon as you have done--yes, I always go ready for impertinent fellows wherever I may meet them."
There followed a moment's silence, and then the visitor said:
"My friend, you had better not attempt to draw a weapon on me; in plain language I am an officer. I have reason to know that you are a fraud; do not attempt any 'bluff' on me, for I've been on your track for two weeks; but I'll give you a chance."
Jack, as our readers know, was perfectly cool. He enjoyed the scene--enjoyed it hugely--and he said:
"You will give me a chance?"
"I will, a good chance."
"Thank you."
"But you must earn the chance."
"Oh, I must earn it?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"'Squeak;' I am on to your whole game; you are playing the peddler and locating, and the gang, on your information, work the houses afterward."
"A nice game, ain't it?"
"Yes, a very nice game."
"Why do you wish to interfere with such a nice game?"
"It's my duty to do so."
"Oh, that's it?"
"Yes."
"You have another duty to perform."
"I am not taking instructions."
