Part 14 (2/2)

With that, Hunt swung his chair around so that his back was toward Marsh, and gazed thoughtfully out of the window for a few minutes.

”In your work,” he said at length, swinging around toward Marsh once more, ”you probably come into more or less close contact with the police. I mean by that, that you would work with them more or less on a case of this kind.”

”Certainly,” replied Marsh. ”I follow up every likely clue, including everything which may be unearthed by the police.”

”After thinking it over, it may be that we can come to some arrangement, Mr. Marsh,” said Hunt. ”What are your terms?”

”My charges are $25.00 a day, and expenses,” said Marsh.

”Whew!” whistled Hunt, ”that's pretty steep. I could hire all the private detectives I wanted for ten dollars a day.”

”But I'm not a regular detective,” protested Marsh. ”I'm an investigator.”

”You make a distinction, do you?” smiled Hunt.

”Absolutely,” a.s.serted Marsh. ”I merely dig up the facts and turn them over to you for any action you see fit. My investigative work could hardly be cla.s.sed with the ordinary work of the detective.”

Hunt clasped his hands before him on the desk. After a moment's thought, he said, ”All right, Marsh, I'm going to engage you. See what you can discover, and report to me whenever you think you are making progress. Incidentally, keep your eye on the police and see what they are doing. As long as you are working on this job for me, it will be curious to see just how effective our police really are.

Now, I suppose you want to ask some questions.”

”Yes,” said Marsh, ”one or two; although as a rule I prefer to start with my mind as free as possible. Mr. Merton has been living at the LaSalle Hotel, I understand?”

”Yes.”

”How long has he been living there?”

”Two years.”

”I suppose I can find out something of his habits there.”

”I think I get your drift, Marsh,” said Hunt, with a smile. ”I can a.s.sure you from my personal knowledge, that Mr. Merton has led a very quiet and most exemplary life. Practically all his evenings have been pa.s.sed at the University and Chicago Athletic Clubs, and I believe that occasionally he dropped into the Hamilton Club, of which he is a member.”

”Why did his wife go to Arizona?” inquired Marsh.

”The boy has weak lungs and the doctors said his life could be saved only by several years' residence in the Arizona climate. Mrs. Merton wors.h.i.+ps the boy and insisted upon going with him. They have been there two years.”

”When do you expect them back?” asked Marsh.

”I understand the boy is not much better. It might be years before they return, unless the boy should die.”

Marsh thought a moment, then said, ”You mentioned before that the business could go on without Mr. Merton. I presume he has given you power of attorney?”

”Yes,” said Hunt.

”In case of his death, Mr. Hunt, who would be his executors?”

”I cannot see that that has any bearing on the case.”

”Perhaps not,” said Marsh, ”but I am following a line of thought.”

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