The Million-Dollar Suitcase — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Million-Dollar Suitcase
John Stuart Mill · en
"You used the word 'coincidence,' Mr. Boyne." She leaned across toward
me, eyes bright, little finger tip marking her points. "Allow one
coincidence--that the only description, the only photograph missing from
your files are those of the self-effacing Clayte. To-day Clayte has
proved to be a thief--"
"In seven figures," Worth threw in, and she smiled at him.
"You would call that another coincidence, Mr. Boyne?"
I nodded, rather unable at the moment to think of a better word to use.
"Two coincidences," she went on,--"we are still in mathematics--you
can't add. They run by geometrical progression into the impossible."
The phone rang. While I turned to answer it, my mind was still hunting a
comeback to this. The call was from Foster, just in from Ocean View and
reporting for instructions. Covering the transmitter with my hand, I
told Worth the situation and asked,
"Any suggestions?"
"Not I," he shook his head. I added, a bit sarcastically,
"Or you, Miss Wallace?"
"Yes," she surprised me. "Have your man Foster find three women who have
seen Edward Clayte; get from them the color of his hair and eyes; tell
him to have them be exact about it."
"Fine! But you know they'll not agree, any more than the other people
agreed."
"Oh, yes they will," she laughed at me a little. "Don't you notice that
a girl always says a blue-eyed man or a brown-eyed man? That's what she
sees when she first meets him, and it sticks in her mind. Girls and
women sort out people by types; small differences in color mean
something to them."
I didn't keep Foster waiting any longer.
"Hello," I spoke quickly into the transmitter. "Get busy and dig out any
women clerks of the bank, stenographers, scrub-women there, or whatever,
and ask them particularly as to the exact shade of Clayte's hair and
eyes. Get Mrs. Griggsby again at the St. Dunstan. I want at least three
women who can give these points exactly. Exactly, understand?"
He did, and I thanked Miss Wallace for her suggestion.
"Now that," I said, "is what I want; a good, practical idea--"
"And it won't be a bit of use in the world to you," she laughed across
the table into my eyes. "Why, Mr. Boyne, you've found out already that
there are too many Edward Claytes, speaking in physical terms, for you
to run one down by description. There are three of him here, within
sight of our table right now--and the place isn't crowded."
I grinned in half grudging agreement, and found nothing to say. It was
Worth who spoke.
"Like to have you go a step further in this, if you would," and when she
shook her head, he went on a bit sharply. "See here, Bobs; you and I
used to be pals, didn't we?" She nodded, her look brightening. "Well
then, here's the biggest game I've been up against since I crawled out
of the trenches and shucked my uniform. I come to you and give you the
high-sign--and you throw me down. You don't want to play with me--is
that it?"