Part 14 (1/2)
”Send me in?” exclaimed Tom, incredulously.
”Yes, that's what I said, wasn't it?”
”And that's what a reg'lar detective would do?”
”Yes.”
”And that's what you're goin' to do?”
”Yes, of course it is. Why wouldn't I do the same as any other detective? That's what I want to know.”
”Of course you would, Bob, but I couldn't do nothin' if I should go in,”
said Tom, gently protesting against the proposed plan of action.
”You can do what I tell you to, can't you?”
”I don't know nothin' about it, any way, I tell you,” replied Tom, showing more plainly his disinclination to obedience.
”Tom Flannery, I wouldn't er believed that you would back out this way,”
said Bob, with surprise.
”Well, I don't want to be a detective no way. I don't care nothin' about my name bein' in the paper.”
”You hain't got no ambition. If you had, you'd show some s.p.u.n.k now.
'Tain't often a feller has a chance to get into a case like this one is.”
”Well, I don't care if it ain't, that's what I say.”
”I thought you wanted to be a detective, and couldn't wait, hardly, for me to work up the case.”
”Well, I didn't think I'd have to climb into places like this old Gunwagner's. 'Tain't what I call bein' a detective no way.”
”You make me tired, Tom Flannery. You get the foolishest notions into your head of any boy I ever see.”
”Well, I don't care if I do. I know plenty detectives don't do nothin'
like this. They jest dress up and play the gentleman, that's what they do.”
”And that's the kind of a detective you want to be, is it?”
”Yes, it is; there ain't no danger about that kind of bein' a detective.”
”Tom, you'd look great tryin' to be a gentleman, wouldn't you? I'd like to see you, Tom Flannery, a gentleman!” said Bob, derisively. ”It makes me sick, such talk.”
Tom was silent for a time. Evidently he thought there was some ground for Bob's remarks.
But an idea occurred to him now.
”Bob,” said he, ”if you like bein' this kind of a detective, why don't you go in yourself, instead of sendin' me? Now, answer me that, will you?”