Part 16 (1/2)
”Yes.”
”There's a boy keeps it.”
”I've seed him.”
”So far so good, then. Do you know anything about him?”
Julius shook his head.
”Then I want you to find out all you can about him. Find out if he's got any friends in Brooklyn, or just outside of the city. I'll tell you what I know about him, and then you must learn as much more as possible. Do you know his name?”
”No.”
”It is Paul Hoffman. He and his mother live in a house that they take care of on Madison avenue. We want to break into that house some night next week and carry off some plate and bonds that are in the safe. If we make the haul we'll do well by you.”
”I understand,” said Julius, nodding intelligently.
”What we want,” pursued Marlowe, ”is to have the boy sleep out of the house the night we make the attempt. That will leave the coast clear.
If the woman wakes up and discovers us, we'll threaten to kill her if she makes any fuss. Do you hear?”
Julius nodded again.
”Do you think you can do what we want?”
”Yes.”
”That's well. We'll wait for the boy's report before we lay our plans, Jack. Now that's settled, we'll send out for some whisky and drink success to the job.”
”Then you must find the money, Marlowe, for I'm dead broke.”
”Here, boy, take this,” said Marlowe, handing Julius the bill he had recently displayed, ”and bring back a pint of whisky.”
”All right,” said Julius.
”And mind you bring back the change, or I must go without breakfast to-morrow morning.”
”I'll remember,” said Julius.
When he had gone out, Marlowe said: ”Where did you pick up that boy, Jack? He isn't your son, is he?”
”No; I have no son. I picked him up one day when he was a little chap.
He didn't seem to belong to n.o.body; so I took him home, and he's been with me ever since.”
”Where does he go when you are shut up, Jack? That's a good part of the time, you know.”
”Into the streets. He picks up a living there somehow. I don't ask how.”
”And he always comes back to you when you get out again?”